Getting to Know New Mets Pitcher Trevor May

The New York Mets bolstered its bullpen this offseason after signing right-hand reliever Trevor May.

In a press conference with the media this week, fans got a first look at who is going to be joining the ball club. May expressed his excitement to join the “buzz” in Queens, especially with new owner Steve Cohen ready to pull the trigger and make big-time acquisitions.

“To be honest, one of the biggest things is kind of the buzz around Steve and the purchase of the team and the excitement of all the changes happening,” May said during a Zoom call on Thursday afternoon. “My immediate reaction was wanting to be a part of something like that.”

Now, the 31-year-old has a two year, $15 million contract, and will rejoin former Minnesota Twins pitching coach Jeremy Hefner. Still, Hefner’s 2021 status with the Mets is not official.

The former Twin ranked seventh in MLB with 14.66 strikeouts per nine innings in 2020 with an ERA of 3.86. Since returning from Tommy John surgery in 2018, he has posted a 3.18 ERA.

During his six-year tenure with the Minnesota Twins, May went 23-21 with a 4.44 ERA, 103 walks, and 367 strikeouts.

May could serve as a strong seventh inning guy and will take a role alongside Edwin Díaz, Jeurys Familia, and Dellin Betances, among others. The addition is needed, considering the Mets bullpen has been notoriously weak over the last several seasons. In 2020 alone, the bullpen had seven blown saves and even saw starting pitchers Steven Matz and David Peterson make appearances late in games.

For May, he does not give up a lot of walks, strands players, and has good control over his pitches.

With free agency still in full throttle, the Mets expect to be in the mix on a number of free agents, including Trevor Bauer, J.T. Realmuto, George Springer, and James McCann.

(Photo: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)