Mets Demote Valverde, Make Farnsworth Their Closer

Three weeks into the season, the New York Mets are trying their third closer.

Mets manager Terry Collins says Sunday he is promoting setup man Kyle Farnsworth to the ninth-inning role in place of struggling right-hander Jose Valverde, who has given up four home runs in his last three outings.

Valverde got the job when Bobby Parnell went down with an elbow injury after blowing a save on opening day. Parnell had Tommy John surgery and is out for the season.

Valverde has two saves in three chances and a 5.40 ERA. Farnsworth has a 1.23 ERA in eight appearances, throwing 6 1-3 scoreless innings in his past seven games.

Both veterans were signed to minor league contracts in February and added to the big league roster to shore up a suspect bullpen.