MIAMI — When the Mets begin the 2023 season Thursday afternoon in Miami, they’ll be doing so without a closer. The club has yet to decide on a replacement for Edwin Diaz and they don’t anticipate doing so anytime soon.
The closer situation might be the biggest storyline and the biggest question for the Mets as the 2023 season gets underway. When general manager Billy Eppler constructed the roster, he placed a heavy emphasis on relievers with experience and success pitching in high-leverage innings. His goal was to build a versatile bullpen with pitchers who could eat multiple innings and make swing starts, as well as pitch in situations where the game is on the line even if a save isn’t.
Eppler added three high-leverage relievers to a group that already had two in Diaz and Drew Smith. That depth will be tested with a demanding schedule right out of the gate. The Mets will play eight games in a row to start the slate.
