PORT ST. LUCIE - The Mets Are Loaded With Starters, But Tobias Myers Is Still Getting Stretched Out
Spring training is underway in Port St. Lucie, and the Mets are already facing a familiar but welcome dilemma: too many starting pitchers.
That’s not a bad problem to have in February. And yet, even with a rotation that’s already overflowing, the team is giving Tobias Myers a starter’s ramp-up this spring.
Myers, 27, came over from Milwaukee in the Freddy Peralta blockbuster last month. And while he’s been used in both starting and relief roles during his time with the Brewers, the Mets are keeping their options open by building him up as a starter-for now.
“We’re going to stretch him out and follow a starter’s ramp, at least for the first part of spring training and maybe for a little bit longer than that,” Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said Tuesday. “And then we’ll see how our spring is going and determine where he fits best.”
That flexibility is exactly why Myers was appealing in the first place. He’s shown he can handle both roles-and do it well.
Over his two seasons in Milwaukee, he posted a 3.15 ERA across 188 2/3 innings. In 2024, he started 25 of his 27 appearances and delivered a 3.00 ERA.
Then last season, he shifted into a multi-inning bullpen role, coming out of the ‘pen in 16 of his 22 games and dominating with a 1.91 ERA in 28 1/3 innings.
“He’s had success out of the bullpen,” Stearns said. “So we’re not afraid to do that either, but I think his ability to provide length in either role is going to be important for us.”
That kind of versatility is gold for a pitching staff, especially one that could go in a few different directions once the regular season gets closer. By stretching Myers out now, the Mets are giving themselves the flexibility to pivot depending on how the rest of the rotation shakes out.
And make no mistake: there’s a crowd vying for rotation spots. Freddy Peralta, Nolan McLean, Clay Holmes, Sean Manaea, David Peterson, and Kodai Senga are all in the mix. Prospects Jonah Tong and Christian Scott are expected to start the year in Triple-A, but they’re not far off either.
Of course, spring injuries can change that picture in a hurry. Just ask the Braves, who already lost Spencer Schwellenbach to the 60-day IL with right elbow inflammation.
That’s the kind of spring training curveball that can derail a rotation plan before it even gets going. Which is why depth-and guys like Myers-matter so much.
“We’ve got six healthy guys feeling really good right now,” Stearns said. “If we have six healthy guys feeling really good on Opening Day, I will gladly work through that challenge at that point. We may decide at times to build a six-man [rotation], or we may not, but we’ll figure that out.”
That six-man setup has been a familiar approach for the Mets recently, especially with Kodai Senga in the fold. The team has used that extra rest day to keep their ace fresh, and it’s worked well enough that it could be back on the table depending on how the rotation unfolds.
Meanwhile, the bullpen is also taking shape-and still waiting on a key piece. A.J.
Minter, the veteran lefty whose first season in Queens was cut short by a lat tear last April, is progressing in his rehab. Stearns said early May is a “realistic timeline” for Minter to return to the big-league bullpen.
In the meantime, that opens the door for other lefty options to step up. Bryan Hudson, acquired from the White Sox on Tuesday, will get a long look in camp. Brooks Raley is the only left-hander currently locked into a bullpen spot, so there’s opportunity for someone like Hudson to grab a role out of camp.
Bottom line: the Mets are entering spring training with more arms than spots, and that’s exactly the kind of problem you want. Whether Myers ends up in the rotation, the bullpen, or somewhere in between, his ability to handle multiple roles gives the Mets a valuable piece of insurance-and maybe more.