Mets GM feels 'good' about bullpen despite Edwin Diaz injury

The New York Mets didn't make a major trade ahead of Opening Day to fill the gap created by the injury to All-Star closer Edwin Diaz, and they don't appear to be sweating it.

"I feel good about our bullpen, even despite Diaz," Mets general manager Billy Eppler said ahead of Thursday's Opening Day clash at the division-rival Miami Marlins, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. "It would have been more unbelievable, obviously, with him, but it’s going to have to be an obstacle we overcome." 

Diaz is expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2023 season after he suffered a torn patellar tendon celebrating a victory with Puerto Rico teammates during the World Baseball Classic earlier this month. It's since been reported that the Mets haven't yet actively pursued Cincinnati Reds reliever Alexis Diaz, Edwin Diaz's younger brother, and it's also been said that other teams aren't willing to send top-tier pitchers to the World Series hopefuls at this time of the year unless New York pays double or even triple the price. 

While Mets manager Buck Showalter admitted that veteran David Robertson "obviously kind of jumps at you" as Diaz's immediate replacement due to Robertson's experience in the role, Showalter also may not be ready to fully show his hand. 

"I want to have a flexible bullpen, and the biggest thing is trying to keep them all healthy and at the same time put our best foot forward," Showalter explained. "The season and the games don’t always cooperate with you. We’re going to have to sit down and look at it after every game." 

Robertson has 157 career regular-season saves since the 2008 campaign. He earned 20 of those pitching for the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies in 2022. 

To compare, fellow Mets reliever Adam Ottavino has just 33 career saves across 12 big league seasons. 

Showalter is open to using both Robertson and Ottavino in the same game to earn a win but may also have some tricks up his sleeve. 

“We have got some other guys that we think might pop and present themselves as an option that you may not think that they would be, but we think they have the ability to do it," Showalter added. 

Mets owner Steve Cohen made it clear last week that he wouldn't "overreact" to the Diaz injury this spring. Whether or not Cohen will change that approach if he watches the Mets blow a couple of ninth-inning leads in April shall be seen.