MLB free agency: Mets interested in Bryan Shaw, Joe Smith

The Mets have their eyes on two relievers, particularly Bryan Shaw and Joe Smith, as they explore the free agent market, sources told Mike Puma of the New York Post.

Puma’s sources say the Mets ”are very interested in Shaw” and are “keeping tabs” on Smith. Puma also reports that the Mets are looking at Mike Minor and former closer/setup man Addison Reed because Mets general manager Sandy Alderson ideally wants to “limit many of his starting pitchers’ exposure to two times through the batting order“ this year.

Shaw and Smith are ideal because they pitched for current Mets manager Mickey Callaway when Callaway was the pitching coach for the Indians. They also could fill the seventh or eighth inning roles for the Mets, whose bullpen already features Jeurys Familia, AJ Ramos and Jerry Blevins.

The 30-year-old Shaw has been one of the most dependable relievers in the game. He has led the AL in appearances three of the last four seasons while being a part of an Indians bullpen that included Andrew Miller and Cody Allen. Last year, He went 4-6 with a 3.52 ERA while making an AL-best 79 appearances.

Smith was effective last season while pitching for both the Indians and the Blue Jays. In 59 appearances, the 33-year-old Smith posted a 3-0 mark with a 3.33 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. If the Mets sign him, he will reunite with the team that drafted him in 2006 and pitched for parts of two seasons before being traded to the Blue Jays in a three-way deal in which the Mets acquired Sean Green, J.J. Putz and Jeremy Reed.