Some pitchers arrive with a mystery to solve, and some arrive with instructions already printed on the box. Adbert Alzolay might be the latter, even if the New York Mets are hoping to discover a few bonus features the Cubs never bothered to unwrap. He’s the kind of arm that sparks imagination; the kind you can picture thriving once someone finally decides to use the on-switch the right way.
Chicago kept changing Alzolay’s role, first as a starter with many options, then as a reliever for any situation. His strengths got lost in mismatched scenarios. If the Mets focus on his strengths, especially what suits him best, they can reveal the pitcher who stands out.