New York Mets: What Will They Do With Dillon Gee?

What Will The New York Mets Do With Dillon Gee When He Returns To The Major Leagues?

The New York Mets knew the time would come when they would have to make a decision about who would stay and who would go from their starting rotation. Well, that time is now, as the Mets need to decide what to do with Dillon Gee as he makes his return from the disabled list.

Gee was placed on the DL almost three weeks ago with a groin strain, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time as he was finally beginning to get things rolling on the mound. For the season he is sporting a 0-2 record with a 3.86 ERA, but in his final two starts prior to going on the DL, Gee had a 1.42 ERA over 12 ⅔ innings.

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Gee has carried that production over to his rehab, where he has been dominant. He has pitched to the tune of a 0.87 ERA in his two outings with the Florida State League club, going 6 ⅓ in his last start. He allowed only three hits and no walks in that scoreless start, striking out five as well. With Gee seemingly ready to rejoin the big league club, the question now becomes what will the Mets do with him?

The decision that will pop into people’s heads first will be demoting Noah Syndergaard back to Triple-A, as he took the place of Gee in the rotation. That sounds simple, but it is hard to imagine the Mets sending their top prospect back down to the minors.

He has done nothing to warrant such a move, as he has really only experienced trouble in the six inning of both his starts, first against the Chicago Cubs then second against the Milwaukee Brewers. He was able to pick up his first career win against the Brewers, as he showcased the dominant stuff he has, constantly throwing first fastball in the high-90’s.

At this time, it could also be argued that the Mets have a strong rotation with Syndergaard in it than Gee, as his potential is through the roof. Also, it could hurt a young player to be sent down when it isn’t exactly warranted, as Syndergaard has earned the right to pitch in the big leagues. He is scheduled to start over tonight against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and if he pitches as well against them as he did against the rest of the NL Central he has faced thus far, it would be tough to imagine him getting sent down.

May 17, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard (34) pitches during the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Another potential player to replace in the rotation would be Jon Niese. Niese has struggled mightily in his last two starts, as he has given up at least one run in eight of his last 10 innings pitched. But, manager Terry Collins has already said Niese isn’t in danger of getting pushed from the rotation, as he doesn’t envision him as a bullpen arm. Also, he is the only left-handed pitcher the Mets currently have in their rotation, so his spot should be secure from anyone other that maybe Steven Matz, the next top prospect the Mets have in the pipeline for pitchers.

Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Bartolo Colon are locked in, and even if they struggled for a couple of starts wouldn’t be in danger of losing their spots in the rotation. So if Gee is to remain in the rotation, it will be at the expense of the youngster Syndergaard or the veteran Niese. But, what if Gee makes his return and it isn’t in the bullpen?

The Mets and their management could decide that the best place for Gee on the team currently is in the bullpen, where he was originally expected to be when the season began. But, Tommy John surgery for Zack Wheeler changed that, and Gee found himself back in the starting rotation again. Could the Mets go back to their original plan from Spring Training?

There is a chance, as the Mets are currently using only a seven man bullpen even though they have expressed the wanting to use an eight man one. Injuries to the lineup have caused that to change a little bit, but with David Wright and Travis d’Arnaud on the mend, the Mets could potentially go back to the eight-man pen they started the season with.

That could be where Gee finds himself, as there just isn’t a spot in the rotation right now unless the Mets wanted to go to a six-man rotation. If that is not the case, the bullpen seems to be where Gee is destined to be. Syndergaard has done nothing to prompt a demotion, and Collins has already said that Niese will not be moved to the bullpen. That leaves Gee without a spot in the regular rotation and destined for a place in the bullpen, where the Mets had planned for him to be all along.

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