The New York Mets’ bullpen area has been dodgy under pressure of late after an incredible start to the season. The unit is suffering from injuries to key members along with the loss of form of their replacements. Therefore, fans are making a case for a change in the lineup amid the pitching crisis at the Mets’ camp. But why hasn’t the manager given the green light for his inclusion in the roster?
The bullpen arms of the Mets, formed by Jorge Lopez and Yohan Ramirez have been underperforming in crunch situations. Injuries to A.J. Minter and Danny Young haven’t helped their cause either. The absence of a designated closer is quite evident. Constant chopping and changing have reduced the roster depth and increased the workload in the bullpen.
This has called for the fans to vouch for pitcher Dedniel Nunez’s place in the roster. The reliever has been in red-hot form for Triple-A Syracuse, which has led to the uproar for his promotion. However, to promote Nunez, the Mets would require DFA (designate for assignment) for another player. This would risk asset loss to rivals and create a roster management dilemma in the Mets’ camp.
An MLB insider has now disclosed the actual reason why Mets’ manager Carlos Mendoza has not called up Nunez despite the ongoing crisis. And it has nothing to do with performances but front office logistics. When asked about Nunez, SNY’s MLB insider, Andy Martino, stated that the only reason he has not been called up is simply based on the current schedule for the Mets.
On Mets Pre Game, @martinonyc joined @mmargaux8 to discuss the latest on Dedniel Núñez and when we could expect to see him back in the majors pic.twitter.com/TIfZZr0vEW
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) May 1, 2025
“I think he’s throwing the ball and commanding it very well lately, and he’s just about ready to be here. It’s just a matter of, like, once you get through some roster moveage that doesn’t involve him and involves some spot starters and innings that need to be eaten over the next couple days, you’re going to see Nunez here likely for good to be an impact guy for the Mets,” Martino told Michelle Margaux, during the pre-game show.
In recent times, Nunez has shown remarkable effectiveness and improved command on the mound, which suggests that he’s ready for the big league. Further, the team is navigating through a series of adjustments to address the current pitching needs, and Núñez’s promotion is a strategic consideration in this process.
The Mets are currently in the middle of a 13 consecutive games stretch. Adding Nunez to the team would mean dropping another player from the roster, a decision which the Mets aren’t prepared to make.
Can reinforcements fill the void for the Mets?
Earlier on Monday, the Mets announced their decision to move pitchers A.J. Minter and Frankie Montas to the 60-day injured list, making room for reinforcement in the roster. RHP TY Adcock and LHP Génesis Cabrera were included in the roster as their replacements, while the corresponding 40-man roster moves will be announced later.
With a 7.88 ERA in the 8 innings, Cabrera hasn’t quite impressed in the minor league but has a significant record of 3.89 in MLB. Meanwhile, Adcock has gone under the radar despite hitting decent performances in the minor league with an ERA of 1.29 spanning over 7 innings. But more than the numbers, it is the variety that they provide in the Mets lineup, a facet desperately needed by the club.
The Mets look thin on both left-handed and right-handed relieving options. Lack of form of key players like Jose Butto and Ryne Stanek has only compounded their problems.
After Mets’ game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, both Chris Devenski and Brandon Waddell made their way back to the minor leagues following an increased workload. As per reports, the Mets are currently shaking up the front office to find suitable options both internally and externally.
In the short term, the Mets can partially fix their holes with the new addition to their side. However, in the long term, the Mets need a proven arm through trade acquisition to mitigate the risk of blown leads and late-inning collapses. For now, it seems that Nunez is the missing piece in the jigsaw puzzle for the Mets manager, Mendoza.
Now we will have to wait and watch to see how the situation unfolds at Citi Field. Let us know what you think about this development through your comments.
The post MLB Insider Reveals Real Reason Why Carlos Mendoza Has Not Called Up Promising Mets Star Amid Pitching Crisis appeared first on EssentiallySports.