Mets reliever Anthony Swarzak takes shot at Yankees

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – Mets reliever Anthony Swarzak can envision another Subway Series this October – provided the Yankees hold up their end of the bargain.

“Both teams got to be there," Swarzak, an ex-Yankee, said when asked if he was looking forward to the Subway Series. "I know we will.”

With Mets camp set to start Monday when pitchers and catchers report, Swarzak seemingly took a dig at his new team's crosstown rivals. Swarzak struggled in his brief stint with the Yankees in 2016 when he posted a 5.52 ERA in 26 games, but rebounded last year and ultimately signed a two-year deal with the Mets worth $14 million.

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"This is the type of place where if you have success, you can pitch here for a long time," Swarzak said of the Mets. "They have a great fan base, great organization, they seem very loyal. I’m excited to win over some fans and win some games in Queens."

Swarzak joined the Yankees while he was attempting to reinvent himself as a pitcher. The previous year, then Indians pitching coach and current Mets manager Mickey Callaway recommended to Swarzak that he add muscle. Adding muscle would help Swarzak have a longer stride, and make him a more effective pitcher.

While Callaway's suggestions would ultimately help Swarzak produce a breakout campaign in 2017, he did not enjoy success in the Bronx. The righty yielded 10 homers in only 31 innings, and the Yankees only used him once after Aug. 22

"I had some good games, I had some bad games, it was just a consistency thing," Swarzak said Sunday afternoon at First Data Field. "I felt stronger and I was bigger and I didn’t really know how to work with all of that. I’m not making excuses, the stuff was there, I just had to get better at it. I wasn’t good enough at that time. I’m better now.”

Swarzak aims to enjoy more success during his second tour in the Big Apple, and he will be an important part of the Mets bullpen that is looking to rebound. Swarzak, Jeurys Familia, AJ Ramos and Jerry Blevins should form a formidable late-innings quartet.

“I think we have the ability to be one of the best bullpens in baseball. The stuff is there, it seems like the attitude is there, Swarzak said. "From everybody I’ve talked to, everybody’s already pulling for each other and asking how bullpens are going and how everybody’s feeling and that’s a big step. I’ve only been here a couple days and all the bullpen guys are already talking and kind of getting ready to play some golf together and that’s what it takes. It takes a group of guys willing to fight for each other and pull for each other when it’s the hardest. I’m excited to see what’s going to happen.”