Josh Edgin, who appeared in 34 games in each of the last two seasons with the Mets, was among the first round of cuts Monday after a slow start this spring.
The lefty has struggled with reduced velocity and command, so he’ll try to regroup in minor league camp.
“We tried,” manager Terry Collins said. “The big thing is he came to the major leagues and dominated left-handed hitters. His velocity is down a little bit. We had some concerns about it and we thought it was best if he went down there for a little bit and got his confidence back.”
Collins hopes Edgin is able to fix himself.
“He was upset about it,” Collins said. “He should be. As I told him, that guy that came here two years ago, that’s the guy I want to see back here. With an aggressive mentality.”
Collins hasn’t ruled out John Lannan for the bullpen, despite his ability to start.
“We’re trying to touch all of our bases,” Collins said.
When asked if he were concerned about the possibility of going with Scott Rice as the lone lefty in the pen, Collins said: “Not yet … He pitched in 73 [games] last year. I’ll worry about it after 73.”
Dillon Gee tossed four scoreless innings against the Marlins in a B game and was pleased with the way he was able to throw his changeup.
“The way it was coming out of my hand [Monday] was like it used to be,” Gee said, referring to prior to his 2012 surgery to remove a blood clot. “It had felt flatter to me than in years past.”
“That might have been as good as I’ve seen Dillon Gee,” Collins said. “He was at 92-93 [mph].”
Ruben Tejada’s ugly spring didn’t improve with another error Monday on a routine grounder. After general manager Sandy Alderson said Saturday he wouldn’t put the shortstop under a microscope, Collins also took it easy on Tejada.
“Three weeks is plenty of time to get the sharpness there, in my opinion,” Collins said of Opening Day.
Tejada will get Tuesday off and Collins said Wilmer Flores would get time at short in Jupiter, Fla., against the Cardinals.
One day after his first game action of the spring following September neck surgery, Bobby Parnell was pleasantly surprised by how he felt Monday. “I’m actually better than I thought I would be.”
Among Monday’s other cuts were left-hander Steven Matz, right-hander Erick Goeddel, infielder Wilfredo Tovar and outfielder Cesar Puello, who were optioned. Reassigned to minor league camp were right-handers Logan Verrett, Chasen Bradford and John Church; left-handers Adam Kolarek and Jack Leathersich; catcher Kevin Plawecki; infielder Danny Muno; and outfielders Dustin Lawley, Brandon Nimmo and Cory Vaughn.
Additional reporting by Kevin Kernan