Despite clamors from their fanbase to sign Yoenis Cespedes and improve the offense, the New York Mets have instead chosen to improve an already impressive pitching staff with the signing of lefty Antonio Bastardo. The addition of Bastardo gives the Mets’ bullpen a significant boost and may be the final piece in putting together an outstanding pitching staff.

Before signing Bastardo, the Mets’ bullpen was in decent shape. However, after playing October baseball in 2015, the Mets need to put together a bullpen in 2016 that they know will hold up in the playoffs. Now with Bastardo in the picture, New York now has done just that. The Mets already have one of the best young closers in baseball in Jeurys Familia, but with Bastardo on board, the Mets have another late-inning reliever who can help to shorten games. Between Bastardo and Addison Reed, a former closer, the Mets have two quality late-inning relievers to handle the seventh and eighth innings and build a bridge between their starters and Familia.

The Mets have what many consider to be the best starting rotation in baseball, one that’s comprised of four (possibly five when Zack Wheeler returns midseason from Tommy John surgery) young aces who are capable of carrying the team a long way. One of the best ways to support that starting rotation is to provide a competent bullpen to ensure a brilliant performance by the starter isn’t wasted and wins don’t slip away. The addition of Bastardo gives the Mets strong late-inning relievers and plenty of bullpen depth to ensure that the New York is able to secure deserved wins for their starting staff.

The late-inning trio of Familia, Reed and Bastardo may not rank as the best in baseball, but the addition of Bastardo gives the Mets more depth in the back end of their bullpen than they had last season. Having a lefty in Bastardo and a righty in Reed who are both capable setup men will give Terry Collins the opportunity to play the matchups in the seventh and eighth innings, increasing the odds of the Mets getting the ball to Familia in the ninth with a lead.

Had the Mets not signed Bastardo, New York’s bullpen in 2016 would have looked almost identical to the bullpen in 2015, and that simply was not going to cut it if they are able to return to the postseason. Signing Bastardo was a necessary move for the Mets, and he will help them complement a dominating starting rotation with a solid and reliable bullpen for a winning combination in 2016.