UPDATE: Milwaukee Brewers' closer Francisco Rodriguez and Baltimore Orioles' setup man Darren O'Day are on revocable waivers, according to Peter Gammons.
Could either of those pitchers be of interest to the Mets if they are cleared?
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The New York Mets have been on an absolute tear, but there's one aspect of the team that could affect them down the road. Their bullpen hasn't been all that reliable, so is it possible the team makes a trade before the waiver deadline?
A number of veteran relievers have cleared revocable waivers and can be traded to any MLB team without restriction, but the latest rumors indicate New York will not be making a deal before the Aug. 31 deadline.
Both Mike Puma of the New York Post and Anthony DiComo of MLB.com say the Mets are "unlikely" to acquire another relief pitcher in the next few days. Seattle Mariners' closer Fernando Rodney was believed to be a possible target for general manager Sandy Alderson, but the right-hander was traded to the Chicago Cubs on Thursday.
Aside from Tyler Clippard and Jeurys Familia, the bullpen needs some more stability. They've lost a number of relievers due to injury/poor performance/suspension this season (Bobby Parnell, Jerry Blevins, Alex Torres, Josh Edgin and Jenrry Mejia) and manager Terry Collins acknowledged this week the team needs to make sure that area of the club is no longer an issue.
"We've got to get it shored up, no question about it," Collins told Andy Martino of the New York Daily News. "Some of these guys have to step up. . . . We're going to have some nights where we've got to depend on some other people."
Beyond Clippard and Familia, the Mets have youngsters Hansel Robles, Sean Gilmartin and Logan Verrett - all of whom have performed well this season, but don't have considerable MLB experience. New York is in the midst of a playoff run and will need to stay strong throughout the month of September, which could put pressure on those three. The other veterans - Carlos Torres and Eric O'Flaherty - haven't been reliable as of late.
So while the Mets' source said the team is unlikely to make a deal, there are still over three days remaining until the waiver deadline. Veteran relievers Addison Reed (ARZ), David Aardsma (ATL), Edward Mujica (OAK) and John Axford (COL) have cleared waivers and are among those who can be traded anywhere. It's not the greatest group to select from, but another veteran presence could be a crucial addition for the pitching staff.
If the Mets' bullpen appears to be at all shaky against the Boston Red Sox this weekend, it wouldn't be surprising if Alderson changes course and takes a further look at the available arms.
