PORT ST. LUCIE — A potentially full rotation that includes reinforcements, and José Buttó’s success in the bullpen last season helped make the decision easy for Mets officials.
Buttó will work in spring training as a reliever.
“He wants to contribute and do whatever it will take to help the team win games,” manager Carlos Mendoza said Thursday after Buttó faced hitters in live batting practice. “We used him out of that role last year and he’s comfortable, but who knows what will happen throughout the year?”
Buttó will be a multi-inning reliever after thriving in that role last season.
In 23 appearances in relief he pitched to a 2.00 ERA with 41 strikeouts in 36 innings.
Buttó recorded at least four outs in 12 of his 23 relief appearances.
“He learned a lot last year and it was hard and was a grind for him, going through the ups and downs and going deep into October,” Mendoza said. “Pitching when you are not feeling at your best, you have got to find a way to get the job done.”
The goal, according to Mendoza, will be to extend Buttó to 40-45 pitches in his appearances this spring.
“Physically he is capable of it and he’s feeling good and it was good to see him throw a live batting practice this early,” Mendoza said.
Mendoza wants most of his relievers available for multi-inning duty this season, if needed, but Dedniel Núñez is among those who won’t be considered for such work as he returns from forearm tightness that ended his season in August.
“We have got to keep these guys healthy,” Mendoza said. “[Núñez] is a big piece of that bullpen on the back end and we want to be careful with him.”
A.J. Minter, who is rehabbing from a hip surgery, is another reliever Mendoza said will likely be limited to one-inning appearances.
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