Mets add Bastardo to bullpen

It’s not the free-agent signing that fans are pining for, but getting lefthanded reliever Antonio Bastardo on Wednesday might prove to be very important for the Mets.

The team agreed with Bastardo on a twoyear, $12 million deal. If that sounds like a lot for a set-up reliever, it’s similar to what others like Mark Lowe, Steve Cishek, and John Axford − all righthanders − have received this winter.

Bastardo, meanwhile, was one of the few quality lefties in this free-agent market. Lefties are in such demand, in fact, that Ollie Perez received a two-year, $7 million deal from the Nationals.

The 30-year-old Bastardo went 4-1 with a 2.98 ERA for the Pirates last season in a setup role, holding lefthanded hitters to a .138 batting average.

Along with Jerry Blevins, Bastardo gives the Mets two lefty relievers who are exceptionally tough on lefthanded hitters, and adds some much-needed depth to the back end of the bullpen.

Bastardo, Blevins, and Addison Reed are likely to be used in mix-and-match combinations to set up closer Jeurys Familia.

Bastardo is more than a lefty specialist, though. He held righthanded hitters to a .210 batting average last season, and overall allowed only 39 hits in 57.1 innings, while racking up 64 strikeouts.

“He’s got an excellent breaking ball,’’ a National League scout said Wednesday night. “When he locates and keeps the ball down, he can dominate lefties and righties.’’

However, control can be an issue with Bastardo − he allowed 26 walks last season.

Still, he has been a solid big-league reliever for six seasons. He’s not Yoenis Cespedes but Bastardo should make the Mets a better team in 2016.