Aaron Heilman impresses but still heads to the bullpen

For a short while it seemed like Heilman might be a candidate to take over the team's closer role after Braden Looper left as a free agent this winter, but that possibility was squashed when the team signed Billy Wagner to a four-year contract. Heilman never seemed to want the job, though, expressing a desire to receive a second chance in the rotation.

Heilman used the opportunity to pitch in the Dominican winter league to prove to the Mets that he could start, posting a 4-1 record with a 2.27 ERA, according to the New York Daily News. On the heels of that effort he showed up to camp as the favorite for the fifth starter's job and continued to impress by allowing just two earned runs over 14 innings to post a sparkling 1.29 ERA.

In a perfect world, that'd be enough, but unfortunately he was matched outing by outing by the young Brian Bannister, who split last season pitching for Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Norfolk. Bannister has allowed just two earned runs in 19 innings to post a 0.95 ERA.