Mets Are About to Let Dellin Betances Walk to Rival Phillies and That's Embarrassing

It's well understood that the New York Mets need to address their bullpen this winter. After all, Edwin Diaz (5.59 ERA) and Jeurys Familia (5.70 ERA) were nothing short of disastrous in 2019.

The Amazins had been linked to right-handed flamethrower Dellin Betances in free agency, but new reports suggest that GM Brodie Van Wagenen is pulling out of the race.

On Tuesday morning, MLB insider Jon Heyman reported that the Mets are now unlikely to sign the four-time All-Star.

If the Mets end up pulling out of the Betances sweepstakes, that would leave the Phillies as the favorites to sign the 31-year-old.

Is Van Wagenen really about to lose another one of his targets to the City of Brotherly Love? If so, that's embarrassing. Of course, Joe Girardi, who reportedly wanted to manage in Queens, ultimately joined the Phillies.

As did Zack Wheeler.

What would prevent the Mets from going all-out for Betances? For the sake of fans in Flushing, we hope that they aren't overly-concerned about his injury-riddled 2019 campaign. Prior to that, Betances made at least 66 appearances in every year dating back to 2014.

More importantly, outside of Betances, the free agent market for relievers is rapidly dwindling.

Betances could change the entire complexion of the Mets bullpen, and letting him walk, to the rival Phillies of all teams, would be a huge mistake.