Reese Kaplan -- The 2026 Mets Bullpen Is Very Much a Black Hole

For the final piece of this 2026 roster series, it’s time to take a look at what is essentially a a bunch of empty lockers — the Mets bullpen.  For now disregard the carousel of relievers who have appeared as parts of the 2025 relief corps.  The question to consider is how to rebuild in 2026 once all of the contracts expire and some options are exercised.  Right now it’s pretty empty.

Who’s Due Back in 2026

• Reed Garrett — He’s become the very definition of a late bloomer as a relief pitcher.  Earlier in his career he struggled with health and effectiveness.   Last season he finished with a not bad 3.77 ERA and showed himself to be pretty much a lock to return.  This year he’s even better with the ERA down to 2.51 and he’s holding runners off base.  He makes very little money and is not eligible for free agency until 2030.
• Huascar Brazoban — Currently working on the mound in Syracuse, he’s had a bit of an up and down career since coming over from the Marlins.  In 2024 he was not the 2.93 ERA reliever who succeeded in Miami.  His ending ERA for the Mets was over 5.00.  This year he’s actually been better with the ERA dropping to 3.83 but his control was hurting the team more than opposing hitters were.  He’s not a free agent until 2029.

Free Agents To Be

• Brooks Raley — He’s returned from his injury and looked even better than he did when he was first brought over to the Mets.  A lefty with good numbers will be in high demand but perhaps there is some hometown loyalty when the Mets kept him during recovery rather than cutting him loose. 
• Ryne Stanek — When it came time to choose between last year’s relievers David Stearns found another Frankie Montas level performer in Stanek.  He is slated to be a free agent but with an ERA of 5.03 he’s not necessarily going to be a crowded room of GMs when it comes time to find an employer. 
• Ryan Helsey — You can’t argue with the numbers he’s posted while in St. Louis.  For his career he’s 31-16 with a 2.65 ERA and 105 saves.  He strikes out nearly triple the number of people he walks, all done with 100 mph heat.  He’s going to be the top of the free agent candidates that pretty much every team will want to add.  He earns just $8.25 million this year and free agency will surely bump him up probably to the $15 million per year salary range. 
• Tyler Rogers — The former Giant side armer also has a very respectable baseball resume.  As a setup guy he hasn’t racked up a huge number of saves, but his career 26-21 record with an ERA of 2.79 is certainly a desirable free agent for any club to consider.  He earns $5.25 million this year and likely will get a raise not to the David Robertson setup stud level but perhaps approaching the 8 figure range per year.  As a 28 year old rookie, he’s playing now at age 34 so it may temper his salary as he’s entering the latter stages of his career.
• Gregory Soto — The former Tiger and Oriole actually earns $100K more than does Rogers but he doesn’t pitch like he deserves it.  For his seven year career he has a losing record of 14-32 with an ERA of 4.20.  He does strike out more than a batter per inning pitched but he also walks nearly 5 every 9 innings.  Of the pending free agents he is probably the least desirable. 

Then There’s the Current Closer

Edwin Diaz — When Steve Cohen gave Diaz a lucrative contract in 2023 that paid him $21.5 million per season for that year, 2024 and again this year in 2025.  Is he earning it?  Well, his current ERA is just 1.41 with a record of 5-1 with a WHIP of 0.918.  In 62 innings pitched he has 118 strikeouts and has only walked 18 to go along with 23 saves.  Yep, that’s even beyond what you’d hoped he’d do.

The problem the Mets are facing are the player options that start at the end of this year.  Will Edwin Diaz based upon what he’s done accept a $3 million cut in pay or will he exercise free agency to see how much more he can get? 

It’s not a single year situation.  If by some miracle the Mets bump up his salary to keep him around the same option exists for 2027 at the same rate.  Then for 2029 the rate jumps up to $20.5.  Both of these options are player-choice, not the Mets choice. 

It would seem that the Mets need to make a serious effort at a new contract for Ryan Helsey whether Diaz stays or not.  He is a very solid reliever who won’t break the bank.  The problem is that he could earn more as a closer than he would as a setup guy (or at least that’s the traditional differential between role and rate).  If the Mets know for a fact that Diaz is testing his free agency after 2025 concludes then it’s doubly important to have a closer identified to replace him.  If they want to retain both of them, then they would have a dynamite 8/9 inning pair but it will be costly.

Who Else Might Be Around?

Well, let’s see...Ty Adcock, Alex Carillo, Chris Devenski, Justin Garza, Justin Hagenman, and Jonathan Pintaro are on tap at Syracuse.  Each would require a new contract negotiation at likely very little cost.

Then there are the injury recovery trio of Max Kranick, Bryce Montes de Oca and Drew Smith.  No one is sure how healthy they will be nor how much they would cost.

Free agency and trade acquisitions are highly likely once again.