Mets LHP Jason Vargas has a 14.21 ERA after allowing four runs in 1/3 of an inning on Saturday. New York's bullpen ranks 27th with a 6.18 ERA.
And even though starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel and reliever Craig Kimbrel are still free agents, Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen said he isn't tempted to make a run at either.
"I don't think we operate in the world of temptation," Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen said before Sunday's game against the Braves. "We like the guys we have here. We'll always monitor ways to get better, but we like the guys we have, including Jason Vargas."
Manager Mickey Callaway said the team plans on keeping Vargas in the rotation, adding the 36-year-old lefty is on track to make his next scheduled start next Saturday against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Even though the Mets enter Sunday's game at 9-5 and atop the NL East, there have been early concerns with the pitching staff.
Since his opening start in which he allowed two runs in five innings, Vargas has allowed eight runs, six hits and three walks in 1 1/3 innings across two outings, one relief appearance on April 9 and Saturday's start.
And though Edwin Diaz has a 1.59 ERA and five saves, Jeurys Familia has a 5.40 ERA and Seth Lugo a 6.23 ERA in seven relief appearances each.
Still on the market are Keuchel, the former Cy Young Award winner who went 12-11 with a 3.74 ERA in 34 starts with the Astros last year, and Kimbrel, who totaled 42 saves and a 2.74 ERA with the World Series champion Red Sox in 2018.
"I don't know," Van Wagenen said when asked if he was surprised at who was still available in free agency. "Keuchel, Kimbrel, other players that have been out there in free agency ... I'm sure that [Keuchel] can make -- and both -- can make teams better. We'll see what happens."
Van Wagenen wouldn't get into specifics about how he wanted to operate the team's payroll or if there were any constraints, saying, "We've been able to create the roster we want it to right now."