Mets claim righty reliever Reid from Pirates

NEW YORK -- The Mets on Monday added another piece to their bullpen mix, claiming right-handed reliever Ryan Reid off waivers from the Pirates.

After spending parts of eight seasons in Tampa Bay's and Pittsburgh's farm systems, Reid, 28, made his big league debut in June, allowing two runs in 11 innings over seven games before his run came to an end. A fastball-slider type, Reid spent most of his summer at Triple-A Indianapolis, where he struck out 56 batters in 59 1/3 innings.

Reid has markedly decreased his ERA each year since first cracking Triple-A in 2011, going from a 4.55 mark that season to 3.52 in '12, and 2.73 in '13.

With the Mets, he figures to compete with a spate of other relievers for one of seven spots in the Opening Day bullpen. Closer Bobby Parnell is the only lock if healthy, but even Parnell could cede his position to Vic Black if he cannot fully recover from neck surgery by Opening Day.

Either way, Black is another prime candidate for a bullpen spot, as are fellow right-handers Jeurys Familia, Gonzalez Germen, Joel Carreno, Carlos Torres, Jeff Walters and Cory Mazzoni. The Mets also have multiple left-handed candidates in Scott Rice and Josh Edgin, and have been looking to add at least one veteran -- preferably one with closing experience -- to the mix.

The Mets scratched one reliever off their list earlier Monday when former Indians closer Chris Perez, who was on their radar at the Winter Meetings, reportedly agreed to terms with the Dodgers.