Mets sign lefty reliever Bastardo to two-year deal

Despite clamors from their fanbase to sign Yoenis Cespedes and improve the offense, the New York Mets have instead chosen to improve an already impressive pitching staff with the signing of lefty Antonio Bastardo.

Bastardo, a left-handed reliever who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates last year, signed a two-year, $12 million contract with the 2015 National League Champs.

Bastardo has also done strong work against righties by allowing just a. 640 OPS against them during his time with the Phillies and Pirates. Six of those were spent in Philadelphia and one in Pittsburgh. Terry Collins will most likely use Bastardo as an eighth-inning setup man to offset the departure of Tyler Clippard. But considering Bastardo’s age, it’s doubtful his skills would erode over the length of a two-year deal. The left-hander had 64 strikeouts and 26 walks in 57 1-3 innings. Bastardo struck out 10 batters per nine innings and had a 129 ERA+ in 66 games, during which he had a 2.98 ERA in 571/3 innings.

The Mets struggled with the bullpen in many occasions last season and with Bastardo in the fold, the Mets are certain to be tightening up the backend of that bullpen to secure some victories.

Nonetheless, his addition to the team may be an indication that Addison Reed will be relegated to a seventh-inning role.

Had the Mets not signed Bastardo, New York’s bullpen in 2016 would have looked nearly identical to the bullpen in 2015, and that simply was not going to cut it if they are able to return to the postseason.