PHILADELPHIA — Pirates lefthander Jonathon Niese may not be in high demand, especially after his own general manager, Neal Huntington, took to the airwaves Friday to express buyer’s remorse.
But with the dearth of starting pitchers in the trade market at a time when the Mets could use reinforcements, team officials aren’t ruling out a reunion with Niese, according to people with knowledge of the club’s thinking.
That’s not to say that the Mets are banging down the door to bring back Niese, who was dealt to the Pirates for Neil Walker in the offseason.
The Mets continue to sort through the trade market for a reliever — specifically a righthander to help shore up the seventh inning — according to a source.
But the Mets increasingly are keeping an eye out for potential rotation help, and they aren’t ruling out a flawed though familiar commodity.
As recently as a week ago, the Mets had shown no appetite for a reunion with Niese, who has been sent to the bullpen after posting a 5.13 ERA. The Pirates reportedly have been open to dealing the 29-year-old.
Huntington seemed to drive that point home Friday, telling a Pittsburgh radio station that he wishes the return in the Walker trade had been different.
“In hindsight,’’ he told 93.7 The Fan, “maybe the two fringe prospects and trying to figure out where to reallocate the money might have been a better return.”
- Newsday