Las Vegan Paul Sewald reassigned, will come back to 51s
Paul Sewald will be returning home after all.
The Las Vegan forced his way onto the Mets’ radar with a strong spring performance but was one of two New York cuts on Tuesday. Sewald was reassigned to minor league camp, and catcher Kevin Plawecki was optioned to the minors.
Sewald, who spent last season as the 51s’ closer, had a 2.51 ERA, giving up four runs in 14 1/3 innings in Grapefruit League action this spring.
Sewald was a strong candidate for the Mets’ bullpen but was handicapped because he wasn’t on the 40-man roster. The Mets probably will have to make room for utilityman Ty Kelly on the 40-man roster, as outfielders Brandon Nimmo and Juan Lagares are injured.
The Mets’ bullpen is still in flux, thanks in part to some uncertainty in the rotation. Opening Day rosters need to be set by Sunday.
Among Robert Gsellman, Seth Lugo and Zack Wheeler, Gsellman has the fifth starter spot pretty much sewn up.
But with Steven Matz scratched recently from his last start with elbow irritation, a spot could open for Lugo or Wheeler.
If the Mets take Wheeler, who will be held to a strict innings limit, Lugo could be forced to the bullpen.
With Jeurys Familia expected to be suspended to begin the season, it looks as if the Mets could take Josh Smoker, Josh Edgin and Rafael Montero in the bullpen to begin the season — all of whom played in Las Vegas at some point last season. But if Lugo was forced to the bullpen, the move would change that equation.
In that case, Edgin, who is out of options, or Montero probably would be the one affected.
Either way, the Mets face several decisions in the next few days. They’ll play the 51s on Thursday in Florida before heading to New York to face Army on Friday.
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Contact Betsy Helfand at bhelfand@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BetsyHelfand on Twitter.
