Mets Reshape Bullpen For Citi Field Inaugural Season

Closer Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez, wearing his new Mets uniform emblazoned with Number 75, with (l. to r.) Mets General Manager Omar Minaya, Mets Manager Jerry Manuel and Mets Chief Operations Officer Jeff Wilpon at a press conference December 17. The New York Mets have replenished what was a dismal bullpen in 2008. After the Mets took a second collapse in September, General Manager Omar Minaya has decided to reshape their bullpen in a big way.

First, the Mets acquired closer Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez, who signed a three-year, $37 million contract. He broke the single season record in saves with 62 in 2008 with the Los Angeles Angels. Rodriguez will be replacing Billy Wagner, who suffered a season-ending injury in '08 that will have him sidelined for most or all of the season in 2009.

The Mets did not stop there. They also added right-handed pitchers J.J. Putz and Sean Green and outfielder Jeremy Reed in a 12-player, three- team trade with the Cleveland Indians and Seattle Mariners.

Putz, 31, went 6-5 with 15 saves and a 3.88 ERA in 47 games for Seattle last season. In 46.1 innings, he notched 56 strikeouts. He held opposing cleanup hitters to a .167 (4-24) batting average.

Jeff Wilpon, Mets chief operations officer, and Omar Minaya, Mets general manager, officially introduced reliever J.J. Putz at Citi Field. Photos Dan Miller/DMD Images Reed, 27, batted .269 (77-286) with 18 doubles, one triple, two home runs and 31 RBIs in 97 games last season for the Mariners. He made 52 starts in center field, 12 starts in right field and three starts in left field.

The Mets in the deal sent relief pitcher Aaron Heilman, who underachieved in the bright lights of New York City, packing to Seattle. They also sent fan favorite Endy Chavez, who will always be remembered for "the catch" in the 2006 NLCS, to Seattle and relief pitcher Joe Smith, who became expendable, to the Indians to complete the deal. The Mets also had to part ways with left-handed pitcher Jason Vargas, minor league first baseman Mike Carp, minor league outfielder Ezequiel Carrera and minor league right-handed pitcher Maikel Cleto to the Mariners.

The Mets will look to use Sean Green to replace Joe Smith in their bullpen and Putz will set up Rodriguez in the later part of the game. Reed will be a reserve outfielder off the bench.

The last part of remodeling the Mets' bullpen came when Omar Minaya made a minor league deal to complete the process. He traded left-handed pitcher Scott Schoeneweis to the Arizona Diamondbacks for minor league pitcher Connor Robertson. Schoeneweis, 35, did not fit in the Mets' plans for 2009. He was 2-6 with a 3.34 ERA in 73 games for the Mets in 2008. In 56.2 innings, he allowed 55 hits, 23 runs, 21 earned, with 23 walks and 34 strikeouts.

Robertson, 27, was 0-1 with a 5.14 ERA in nine games with Arizona this past season. In seven innings he allowed eight hits and four earned runs, with two walks and two strikeouts. Robertson is 29-13 with 24 saves, a 2.82 ERA in 217 career minor league games. In 305.0 innings, he allowed 268 hits, 136 runs, 113 earned, with 123 walks and 382 strikeouts. He will compete for a spot in the bullpen this year in spring training.

The Mets still have some work to do in other areas, but it's a great start that brings promise to a Mets' bullpen in Citi Field in 2009.