New York Mets general manager Billy Eppler. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Mets change tone on seeking bullpen help after latest meltdown

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 6/9/23

The New York Mets (30-33) are in a heap of trouble, having lost six in a row to fall into fourth place in the NL East and eight and a half games behind the first-place Atlanta Braves (38-24).

The latest setback was a 13-10 extra-inning loss against the Braves on Thursday night where the bullpen allowed eight runs in 6 2/3 innings and blew a 10-6 lead they had going into the bottom of the eighth. On top of that, the Mets are likely to lose slugger Pete Alonso to the injured list.

With all the gloom and doom, general manager Billy Eppler is reportedly reconsidering looking into Cincinnati Reds closer Alexis Diaz, the younger brother of New York's injured stopper Edwin Diaz.

"According to a source, Mets scouts have been tracking Reds star closer Alexis Diaz, who is 14-for-14 in saves. The Mets’ biggest issue is an underperforming offense. But relief depth is probably issue No. 2, and adding a closer to combine with David Robertson -- especially Edwin Diaz's brother -- would be huge," the New York Post's Jon Heyman reported Thursday night. "No trade talk yet, but the resurgent Reds would seek young pitching back."

Heyman adds that landing the Reds righty would take a "haul" of prospects, which the Mets are unlikely to surrender.

Days after Edwin Diaz suffered his likely season-ending right patellar tendon tear at the World Baseball in March, it was reported that the Mets hadn't reached out to Cincinnati regarding their hurler. SNY's Andy Martino had also reported that New York considered attempting to trade for the younger Diaz last summer "but deemed the price too high."

The Reds' arm finished fifth in the 2022 NL Rookie of the Year voting after recording 10 saves with a 1.84 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 83 strikeouts across 63 2/3 innings pitched. The 26-year-old is 2-1 with a 1.48 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 46 strikeouts over 24 1/3 innings covering 25 games to go with his 14 saves this season.

Robertson is 2-1 with a 1.98 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 35 strikeouts across 27 1/3 innings pitched to go with 10 saves but has allowed runs in four of his last six outings, including back-to-back appearances. He had a blown save against Atlanta on Thursday, allowing one run (via a home run) on two hits over 1 2/3 innings.

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