For the past week everyone has been speculating if the Mets might add an infielder as the names of Justin Turner and Kris Bryant were brought up But the news about Seth Lugo today may make the team look at adding some pitchers.
Seth Lugo has loose bodies in his right elbow as a bone spur likely broke off and he will have surgery on Tuesday. After that procedure he will not throw for 6 weeks and then start a throwing program at that point likely sidelining through at least the middle of May.
This is a serious blow to the Mets as Lugo was a proven bullpen option and also gave them starting pitching depth so I feel the Mets must add to their roster. They could look to add a reliever and in my opinion Justin Wilson could come front and center as a free agent option.
They could also look to add in the rotation as free agents like James Paxton are still available and this also decreases the chances of a trade for a third basemen as pitching needs to be the focus now.
Right now the Met rotation is Jacob deGrom, Marcus Stroman, Carlos Carrasco and David Peterson which is a very solid quartet of hurlers but that 5th spot is up for grabs with Joey Lucchesi a strong possibility for that role unless they add a free agent. And lets not forget Noah Syndergaard who should be ready by mid-season to return to the rotation.
The bullpen which includes Edwin Diaz, Trevor May, Jeurys Familia, Dellin Betances plus the newly added Trevor May and Aaron Loup has strength but will need additional help to help replace Lugo. In many ways, Lugo was the most reliabler arm in that bullpen and that makes this news real troubling.
Arms like Miquel Castro, Drew Smith, Robert Gsellman, and Stephen Tarpley could be options to fill out the pen. I remember in my first year of covering the Mets back in 1984 Frank Cashen would always tell me that you NEVER have enough pitching and that is certainly true in this sport even today.
This news will force the Mets to pivot their attention from third base which I feel will be manned very well by JD Davis. And I expect Sandy Alderson to take that route here in short order.