Trevor Rosenthal won’t be reporting to Port St. Lucie for spring training.
The top reliever left on the free-agent market, who had been connected to the Mets, will instead be joining the Athletics bullpen on a one-year, $11 million deal, according to multiple reports. The contract includes deferments, according to The Athletic. Rosenthal will make $3 million in 2021, $3 million in 20212, and $5 million in 2023.
Rosenthal, who split last season between the Royals and Padres, is likely to replace Liam Hendriks as the A’s closer rather than boosting the Mets’ bullpen. The Mets had remained in contact with Rosenthal recently, The Post’s Mike Puma reported Monday, in light of Seth Lugo undergoing surgery and the club missing out on Justin Wilson.
The 30-year-old Rosenthal, who was the Cardinals’ closer before undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2017, posted a 1.90 ERA with 11 saves last season.
Heading into spring training, the Mets had added to their bullpen by signing right-hander Trevor May to a two-year, $15.5 million contract and left-hander Aaron Loup to a one-year, $3 million deal. They also added RHP Tommy Hunter and LHP Mike Montgomery on minor-league deals.