Depth is the name of the game.

The Mets did not sign Trevor Bauer this offseason, nor did they land a marquee starting pitcher like Blake Snell or Yu Darvish. Instead, the Mets acquired one of the game’s more underrated starters in Carlos Carrasco, and further supplemented their pitching options with a bevy of under-the-radar moves.

These additions will allow the Mets to fill out their rotation, and to call upon reliable arms for spot starts later on. Because they were never “stretched out” during the abbreviated 2020 season, starting pitcher health will be of utmost importance this year. With pitchers having already reported to camp in Port St. Lucie, let’s explore the lesser-known starters on the Mets’ organizational depth chart.

Jordan Yamamoto

Of all the pitchers brought in by the Mets this winter, Yamamoto presents the most upside. He first drew attention in 2018 as one of the four players dealt from the Brewers to the Marlins in the Christian Yelich trade. 

The 24-year-old posted an above-average strikeout rate in his 2019 debut season, only to be designated for assignment after an atrocious 2020 (27 hits, 23 earned runs in 11.1 IP). The Mets secured the right-hander in a trade for a minor league infielder at the start of February. The move may ultimately be a savvy one: Yamamoto allowed the third-fewest hits-per-nine innings among starters in 2019, trailing only Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole (min. 15 starts).

Joey Lucchesi

Pronounced “Loo-Casey,” this 27-year-old lefty made his debut for the Padres in 2018. The Mets acquired Lucchesi in a three-team deal in January, and he figures to compete for the fifth starter role. 

Lucchesi is not a hard thrower, averaging just over 90 MPH on his primary pitch, the sinker. But he has a deceptive delivery and an intriguing hybrid pitch he calls the “churve,” a combination of a changeup and a curveball. The southpaw was serviceable for San Diego in 2018 and 2019, pitching to a 4.14 ERA over a combined 56 starts. Lucchesi will make close to the league minimum and is under team control for four more years, so he represents a cheap, flexible rotation option.

Oh, and apparently he goes by the nickname “Joey Fuego.”

Jerad Eickhoff

Mets fans are already familiar with Eickhoff from his five unremarkable seasons with the Phillies. Eickhoff’s best season with the Phils came in 2016, when he registered a 3.65 ERA over 33 outings. 

It’s been tough sledding for Eickhoff of late. Injuries (including carpal tunnel syndrome) have derailed his career, limiting him to just under 64 innings since the start of 2018. Eickhoff’s major league experience could come in handy should the Mets need a fill-in at some point in the season.

Mike Montgomery

To date, Montgomery’s greatest achievement is closing out the 2016 World Series and ending a 108-year championship drought for the Cubs. The lefty veteran of six major league seasons is in Port St. Lucie as a non-roster invitee after agreeing to a minors deal with the Mets on Valentine’s Day. 

Montgomery, who is entering his age-31 season, has made 70 starts and 114 relief appearances over the course of his career. He could easily snag a bullpen spot on the Opening Day roster, and his versatility allows him to make the occasional spot start when needed.

Searle’s Final Say

Minor league depth signings aren’t the type of sexy, splashy moves that garner publicity. Nonetheless, these transactions are critical. For a prime example of a team that came up short due to lack of pitching depth, let me remind you of the 2019 Mets. That year, injuries to the staff resulted in not-ready-for-primetime pitchers like Walker Lockett, Wilmer Font, Chris Flexen, and Brooks Pounders making appearances in key ballgames. Had the Mets been able to call on pitchers with more big league experience, they might have snagged a Wild Card spot. Instead, they sat home all October.