Vance Worley

The New York Mets have fallen victim to an overtaxed bullpen early in the 2018 season, which has led to some of the minor league depth being called into duty earlier than expected. The organization is attempting to temporarily patch this issue by signing a pair of pitchers to minor league contracts, including former major leaguers Scott Copeland and Vance Worley, a source indicated.

Copeland, 30, had signed on to play with the independent Somerset Patriots but will join the Mets instead. He made five major league appearances with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2015, including three starts.

In eight minor league seasons, which also included stops in the Baltimore Orioles and Miami Marlins systems, Copeland has recorded a 4.15 ERA with a 1.41 WHIP and 1.84 K/BB ratio.

Worley, 30, has over 600 innings of major league experience, most notably with the Philadelphia Phillies and most recently with the Marlins. He finished third in the National League Rookie of the Year voting with the Phillies in 2011 after posting a 3.01 ERA in 25 games (21 starts) for the Phillies but was dealt to Minnesota for Ben Revere following the 2012 season. Worley, like Revere, joined the Cincinnati Reds this spring but requested his release before the start of the season.

Across eight big league seasons, Worley has logged a 4.09 ERA with 6.7 strikeouts per nine innings.

Both pitchers will report to Extended Spring Training before receiving a full-season assignment, which could come in Las Vegas or Binghamton.