Mets announce deal with lefty reliever Wilson

NEW YORK -- Before embarking on his first offseason as Mets general manager, Brodie Van Wagenen identified bullpen help as one of the most pressing issues he planned to address. Van Wagenen made another addition to that end on Friday, agreeing to terms with left-handed reliever Justin Wilson on a two-year deal that sources said is worth $10 million and includes performance bonuses.
The Mets announced the signing, which had been pending a physical, on Monday.

In Wilson, 31, the Mets receive a lefty who posted 3.46 ERA in 71 appearances for the Cubs last season, many of them less than an inning in length. Wilson was particularly effective against left-handed hitters, holding them to a .190 batting average, and thus serves as a replacement for the departed Jerry Blevins on New York's roster. Overall, Wilson struck out 69 batters in 54 2/3 innings, but also walked 33.
Before signing Wilson, the Mets' left-handed options were non-roster invitees Luis Avilán, Ryan O'Rourke and Héctor Santiago, as well as rookie Daniel Zamora. The team still may carry one or more of those pitchers in its Opening Day bullpen, in what should be a wide-open competition.
Earlier this week, Van Wagenen mentioned Edwin Díaz, Jeurys Familia, Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman as locks or near-locks to make the Mets' bullpen. Wilson now joins that group, leaving the Mets with two or three open spots they can fill with one (or more) of the aforementioned lefties, plus one or two young right-handers from a group that includes Drew Smith, Tyler Bashlor and Eric Hanhold.
The Mets' hope is that they will feature a much improved relief corps from the one that ranked 28th in the Majors in ERA last season.