Going With Dual Closers Is One Solution To Williams Problem

The New York Mets have a closer problem, and it’s not going to be easy to fix. The Mets signed Devin Williams thinking they could be their closer, and they let former closer Edwin Diaz walk when he tried to reset the market by asking for “Diaz money."

So far the Mets are one for two with those moves. Letting Diaz walk was a smart move, but Williams proved conclusively that he’s not reliable as a closer. 

This puts the Mets in a tricky situation. The Mets signed Williams for three years and $51 million, and he still has value. He said he was willing to slide over into the setup rule if New York did re-sign Diaz, and the Mets should definitely take him up on this going forward. 

But finding a cohort for Diaz won’t be easy. The free agent options aren’t great, and most of them are veterans who aren’t worth the money they’ll be looking for. Finding a pitcher who can blend with Williams is going to be a bit of a treasure hunt, and historically the Mets haven’t been good at that sort of thing lately. 

Let’s start by eliminating one possibility. The idea that the Mets can continue to use former failed starter Kodai Senga in that role is ludicrous. Senga posted eight saves down the stretch when the Mets threw him into the role, but most were of the “blind squirrel finds acorn” variety. 

So what’s left in terms of possibilities? The Mets have had Dylan Ross earmarked for this role for a while now, but Ross had a rough year in the minors as he struggled badly with his control. He’s now out as a possibility, although he could still be a viable high-leverage arm if he can have a rebound year and justify a call-up. 

One possible option might be internal. Daniel Duarte had a solid second half of the season as he stepped into the breach following the fire sale the Mets conducted at the trade deadline, although his hamstring injury took him out of the running in September. 

The Mets had the right idea when they reportedly looked at one or more relievesr from the San Diego Padres. Adrian Morejon, Bradgley Rodriguez and Jeremiah Estrada were all the subject of trade rumors throughout the second half of the season, although Estrada struggled with injuries. Giving Duarte a shot as a co-closer is a worthwhile experiment, but the Mets really need a younger reliever who can throw hard to pair with Williams.