PORT ST. LUCIE — Vic Black began spring training as a top candidate to fill the Mets’ vacant eighth-inning relief role. He will end camp on the other side of the team’s spring-training complex, with the organization’s minor leaguers.
The Mets, unhappy with Black’s control this spring, optioned the right-handed reliever to the minor leagues on Wednesday. Black had a 5.79 ERA with 10 walks in 9 1/3 innings this spring.
“It just was a bad spring, and they’re trying to put a team together that is going to give them the best possibility to win and right now they didn’t have that with me,” Black said.
Bobby Parnell, Jose Valverde, Jeurys Familia, Carlos Torres, Scott Rice and John Lannan have filled six spots in the Mets bullpen. The final spot, with Black’s demotion, likely will be given to Gonzalez Germen, though the Mets still can consider veteran Kyle Farnsworth, who was re-signed on Wednesday.
“I didn’t see [the demotion] coming, but I also couldn’t expect anything different, really, because what I did was struggle all spring,” Black said. “I know they are disappointed, as am I, but I’ll be back.”