VIERA, Fla. — At least for Opening Day purposes, Jason Isringhausen is “Generation Nay.”
The veteran righty yesterday lost his bid to crack the Mets’ 25-man roster, but has been offered an opportunity to remain with the organization in extended spring training. Blaine Boyer and Rule 5 pick Pedro Beato earned the final bullpen jobs.
Isringhausen is deciding if he will accept the Mets’ invitation to extended spring training or ask for a release from his minor league contract. General manager Sandy Alderson said he probably will receive an answer from Isringhausen today.
Alderson said Boyer was selected, in part, because the Mets were concerned about Isringhausen’s durability — he has undergone Tommy John surgery three times and recently incurred swelling in his right elbow.
“There is always going to be some injury concern with Jason,” Alderson said before the Mets beat the Nationals 8-2 in an exhibition game. “But the next two weeks [would] tell us a little bit more about his velocity and how he bounces back from day-to-day, and will tell us a little more about our own situation in New York with the bullpen.”
Isringhausen, 38, was attempting a Mets comeback after arriving on the scene as part of “Generation K” with Paul Wilson and Bill Pulsipher in the 1990s. Isringhausen impressed the Mets by posting a 1.29 ERA in seven appearances this spring, but the team also liked Boyer, who could have opted out of his contract if he was not placed on the major league roster.
Manager Terry Collins said Boyer’s style appeals to him. Boyer, 29, has pitched for the Braves, Cardinals and Diamondbacks over six seasons in the majors, and last season posted a 4.26 ERA in 54 games for Arizona.
“[Boyer’s] numbers state that he doesn’t give up big innings and he makes them hit the ball on the ground, and we’re going to need that,” Collins said. “As I told Izzy before the game, ‘If you’re willing to be patient a little bit and continue to condition your arm a little bit, we’re going to need help, there is no doubt about it.’ I don’t know of anybody who has ever gone [all season] with the same bullpen. We’ll see what happens [today].”