New York Mets need to give Seth Lugo the closer’s role

The New York Mets have another position controversy on their hands as Seth Lugo seems poised to take over the closer’s role from Edwin Diaz.

The 2019 season for New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz has been a nightmare in comparison to the expectations coming into the year. Diaz hasn’t shown much consistency or dominance in his first season with the Mets since coming over the last offseason with teammate Robinson Cano from the Seattle Mariners.

Diaz is currently sporting a dreadful ERA above 5.00 struggling to keep the ball inside the park lately. His inefficient efforts have seen him go from the gem of last offseason’s trade to possibly being moved again before last month’s deadline. Diaz pitched beautifully for the Mariners last season as an All-Star compiling 57 saves with an ERA of only 1.96.

The opposite can be said for teammate and fellow bullpen pitcher Seth Lugo who has seen an excellent period of success in July for the Mets. Lugo has been impressive this season producing a 2.68 ERA in 43 games of work in relief for New York. Lugo for his efforts was named NL Reliever of July creating speculation of a possible change in role soon.

Lugo’s stellar pitching this season mixed with Diaz’s struggles could force the hand of manager Mickey Callaway to make the change this season. Diaz has better stuff pitching-wise, but his inability to show clutch efficiency has created doubt in the Mets clubhouse and it would be odd not to have you’re hottest pitcher finish games especially in August.

Lugo is in his fourth season with the Mets and has shown improvement year after year to be considered for the closer’s role. He spoke about his season to this point with reporters recently after a game in Pittsburgh.

"“I’ve had my ups and downs, but I feel pretty confident in the way the season has gone, my approach to pitching, so I am happy where I’m at right now,” Lugo said."

"“I think it’s a matter of staying where I’m at now and my approach to the game, my thought process. I am just going day to day and not thinking about the bigger picture. I’m just thinking about the pitch I am throwing right now and not thinking about three pitchers later or the next batter or the next inning. That is what has really happened in the last month.”"

Lugo is in prime position to take the job from Diaz, but it will be up to Callaway who is going to be timid to make a move longterm officially.

The Mets will probably need to deal Diaz in some way soon via waivers because there will probably be some suitors heading into September.