PAUL BLACKBURN NEWS

Headed for bullpen Blackburn is expected to start the season working as a reliever, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Impact The Mets dealt with some injuries to their starting rotation during spring training, but Blackburn was unable to take advantage of the opportunity with eight earned runs allowed and a 9:6 K:BB over 12.2 frames in the Grapefruit League. Blackburn could still make some starts at some point this summer, but it doesn't seem like he'll be a consistent rotation piece for New York.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Still in rotation mix Blackburn gave up three runs on five hits and two walks over 2.1 innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals. He failed to strike out a batter.

Impact While his final line was sketchy, Blackburn blanked the Nats through two innings before running out of gas in the third and serving up homers to CJ Abrams and James Wood. The right-hander appears to be on the outside looking in for a spot on the Opening Day rotation even with Sean Manaea (oblique) and Frankie Montas (lat) sidelined to begin the season, but with the Mets planning to deploy a six-man rotation somewhat liberally in 2025, Blackburn should get starting opportunities over the summer.

MARCH 8 • ROTOWIRE

Bumpy outing Sunday Blackburn gave up four runs (three earned) on three hits and two walks over 1.1 innings in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox. He failed to strike out a batter.

Impact After tossing a scoreless inning in his spring debut last week, Blackburn ran into trouble against a Boston lineup that featured most of its likely Opening Day starters. The 31-year-old right-hander is competing in camp for a spot at the back of the Mets' injury-plagued rotation, but Blackburn will need better performances than this to climb over Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning on the depth chart.

MARCH 3 • ROTOWIRE

Cleared for spring debut Blackburn (back) is scheduled to start Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Impact Blackburn will most likely be limited to one or two innings in his spring debut as he attempts to make his case for a spot in the Mets' Opening Day rotation. With Sean Manaea (oblique) and Frankie Montas (lat) both expected to begin the season on the injured list, the Mets should have at least two spots available at the back of the rotation for Blackburn, Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning. All three could end up breaking camp in starting roles if the Mets opt to go with a six-man rotation, something that president of baseball operations David Stearns said over the winter that he was expecting the team to implement in 2025.

FEBRUARY 26 • ROTOWIRE

Manaea is expected to miss start of Mets season with oblique strain. Madrigal has fractured shoulder

New York Mets starter Sean Manaea is expected to begin the season on the injured list because of a right oblique strain

FEBRUARY 24 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Path clearing for rotation spot Blackburn (back) may be ticketed for a spot in the Opening Day rotation if Sean Manaea (oblique) begins the season on the injured list, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Impact Blackburn will need to prove that he's healthy himself, of course, but Frankie Montas (lat) was already expected to be sidelined into May, so the Mets' rotation depth is being tested early. Kodai Senga, Clay Holmes and David Peterson are the only locks for starting jobs right now, with Blackburn, Griffin Canning and Tylor Megill competing for the remaining spots, but if New York sticks with its plan to use a six-man rotation, there would be room for all three. The Mets have three off days in the first 15 days of their schedule however, so they could delay those plans until mid-April. Blackburn underwent spinal surgery in October, but he's throwing live batting practice sessions in camp and is on track to be ready for Opening Day.

FEBRUARY 24 • ROTOWIRE

Throwing to hitters Blackburn (back) threw one inning of live batting practice Tuesday, Andrew Tredinnick of NorthJersey.com reports.

Impact Blackburn worked with the Mets this offseason to refine his sinker and sweeper with the goal of adding more run to his sinker and more horizontal movement to his sweeper to make it less of a slurve. He got off to a rough start with the Mets after getting traded from Oakland last season, including a right hand contusion and a spinal fluid leak in mid-September that ended his season. He had surgery Oct. 11 that came with a three-to-five month estimated recovery, and we'll be at five months in mid-March. Blackburn is understandably a little behind the likes of Tylor Megill, who is reportedly furthest along of Blackburn and Griffin Canning, all of whom are competing for the final two spots in the Mets' six-man rotation.

FEBRUARY 20 • ROTOWIRE

Slightly behind competition Blackburn (back) is a little behind the Mets' other rotation options at the start of spring training, Will Sammon and Tim Britton of The Athletic report.

Impact This is no real surprise, as Blackburn underwent spinal surgery in October. The 31-year-old right-hander made only five starts for the Mets in 2024 after being acquired from the A's, stumbling to a 5.18 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 21:7 K:BB in 24.1 innings, and he's never thrown more than 111.1 innings in a big-league season. If he demonstrates he's fully recovered from the surgery and back to his pre-injury form, Blackburn will compete for the No. 6 starter role alongside Griffin Canning and Tylor Megill.

FEBRUARY 15 • ROTOWIRE

Avoids arbitration The Mets and Blackburn (back) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract Thursday.

Impact Blackburn was eligible for arbitration for the third and final time. The veteran right-hander is recovering from back surgery but is expected to be ready for Opening Day. However, it appears unlikely at this juncture that there will be room for him in the Mets' rotation.

JANUARY 9 • ROTOWIRE

Mets and pitcher Sean Manaea finalize $75 million, 3-year deal

Sean Manaea and the New York Mets have finalized a $75 million, three-year contract that keeps one of the team’s best pitchers last season at the front of a remodeled rotation

DECEMBER 28, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sean Manaea to re-sign with Mets for $75 million over 3 years, AP source says

Sean Manaea is set to return to the New York Mets on a $75 million, three-year contract, according to a person familiar with the agreement

DECEMBER 23, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Right-hander Griffin Canning and Mets agree to $4.25 million, 1-year contract

Griffin Canning has agreed to a $4.25 million, one-year contract with the New York Mets, giving them another option for the back end of their revamped rotation

DECEMBER 20, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

City switcher: Clay Holmes confident and excited about move from bullpen to rotation with NY Mets

After spending six years in the bullpen, Clay Holmes is confident he can become an effective starting pitcher for the New York Mets and he's excited about the change

DECEMBER 18, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Discussion with Mets about converting Clay Holmes into a starter began at GM meetings last month

The New York Mets began discussions about signing Clay Holmes as a starter at the general managers meetings last month

DECEMBER 11, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

On track for Opening Day General manager David Stearns said Monday that Blackburn (back) is on track to be ready for Opening Day of the 2025 season, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Impact Blackburn was diagnosed with a cerebrospinal fluid leak in mid-September, which required him to undergo surgery Oct. 11. Barring any setbacks, the timeline for that surgery typically takes 4-to-5 months, and based on Stearns comments Monday, it appears the 31-year-old right-hander will be ready to pitch for the start of the 2025 regular season. Blackburn started in 14 regular-season games between the Mets and A's last season and posted a 5-4 record with a 4.66 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 59:21 K:BB accross 75.1 innings, though whether he works out of the Mets' rotation or bullpen next year has yet to be determined.

DECEMBER 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Mets pitcher Paul Blackburn had a procedure to repair leaking spinal fluid, team says

New York Mets pitcher Paul Blackburn had a procedure this month to repair leaking spinal fluid

OCTOBER 22, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mets RHP Paul Blackburn has spinal procedure, out 4-5 months New York Mets right-hander Paul Blackburn underwent a procedure to repair a cerebrospinal fluid leak earlier this month and will be sideline...

OCTOBER 22, 2024 • SACBEE.COM

Out 4-to-5 months after surgery Blackburn underwent surgery Oct. 11 to repair a cerebrospinal fluid leak, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

Impact Per the Mets, it's a procedure which typically carries a return to play timeline of 4-to-5 months. That would seemingly give Blackburn a shot to be ready in time for Opening Day, provided there are no setbacks along the way. If healthy, Blackburn should open the 2025 season in the Mets' rotation. He held a 4.66 ERA and 59:21 K:BB over 75.1 innings covering 14 starts between the Athletics and Mets in 2024.

OCTOBER 22, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Moved to 60-day IL Blackburn (back) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Saturday, per MLB's transaction log.

Impact Blackburn was placed on the 15-day injured list in late August due to a hand injury. He subsequently suffered a back issue and was diagnosed with a spinal fluid leak in mid-September. Blackburn's move to the 60-day IL officially ends his 2024 season. The transaction also clears way on the Mets' 40-man roster for Kodai Senga, who was activated from the 60-day IL in a corresponding move and is set to start Game 1 of the NLDS against the Phillies.

OCTOBER 5, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Mets RHP Paul Blackburn (spinal leak) done for season New York Mets right-hander Paul Blackburn has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to ongoing issues from a spinal fluid leak, mana...

OCTOBER 2, 2024 • SACBEE.COM

Won't return this season Mets manager Carlos Mendoza on Wednesday ruled out Blackburn (back) for the rest of the season, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Impact Blackburn had hoped to be available for the Mets at some point during the postseason, but he is still having issues after first experiencing a spinal fluid leak in mid-September. The righty posted a 5.18 ERA over five starts for the Mets after being acquired at the trade deadline. He'll be eligible for salary arbitration for a final time this winter.

OCTOBER 2, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Mets rookie Christian Scott to undergo Tommy John surgery, out until 2026

New York Mets rookie right-hander Christian Scott is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery next week and is expected to miss the entire 2025 season

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hopes to return next week Blackburn (back) will play catch Wednesday and hopes to return to the Mets as soon as the middle of next week, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Impact Blackburn is dealing with a spinal fluid leak but is feeling better after being given about 10 platelet-rich plasma injections. The right-hander hasn't pitched in two weeks, and that, combined with how well the Mets' rotation is currently pitching, means that Blackburn would likely return as a reliever, if he does make it back.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Alonso and Acuña power Mets past Nationals 10-1 to increase wild card lead

Pete Alonso homered and drove in five runs, Luisangel Acuña added his first major league longball to cap a huge night at the plate, and the New York Mets routed the Washington Nati...

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Diagnosed with spinal fluid leak President of baseball operations David Stearns said Saturday that Blackburn has a spinal fluid leak in his back, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

Impact The Mets aren't sure exactly how Blackburn suffered the injury, but the team is shutting him down for the time being. Stearns noted that the right-hander's injury isn't expected to be a long-term issue, though there's no telling how long he will be held out.

SEPTEMBER 14, 2024 • ROTOWIRE