Both veteran relievers quietly pitched well for the Mets in 2014.
The Mets may not look very far to solidify their bullpen, as they're eyeing two surprise performers from the 2014 campaign. ESPN New York reported New York's interest in retaining relief pitchers Dana Eveland and Buddy Carlyle, both of whom exceeded expectations last season.
Eveland, a 31-year-old southpaw with a 5.27 career ERA, notched a 2.63 ERA in 27.1 innings for the Mets in 2014 with 27 strikeouts and six walks. As noted in the report, the team must confirm his health after he missed most of September with inflammation in his pitching elbow.
Just as unlikely a success story, Carlyle posted a 1.45 ERA in 31 innings after spending the past two seasons in Triple-A. The 36-year-old right-handed pitcher had worked 29 combined major league innings over the past five years before enjoying a revival in Queens.
Both men were previously removed from the Mets' 40-man roster but represent cost-effective options to round out an otherwise youthful bullpen. While it's unlikely either veteran replicates his 2014 production, it should not take that much money to bring them back into fold for some welcome depth.