MACK - MY WEDNESDAY OBSERVATIONS - MACK'S #16: RP RYAN LAMBERT - Mitch Keller, Soto, November Signing, Bad Contracts, Power Ranking, 2025 Regrets, Bregman, Jett, Top 10

 

I promised all of you that, as soon as the season ended, I would breakout and post my current Top 30 prospects.

This is performance based, not players that came to the Mets full of promise but have only produced butterscotch pudding. A perfect example of a player that didn’t make this list is catcher Ronald Hernandez. I still like the guy, but based on what he did in 2025, I don’t like him “top 30 guy”.

Nolan McLean, Brandon Sproat, and Jonah Tong _(maybe) are not on this list. They have graduated.

I will post them in each of my weekly Observations and In Focus posts… one player at a time… beginning with #30.

Today, we move to #16:

Ryan Lambert (note: likely the intended spelling, as "Ryam" appears to be a common autocorrect error for this player) is a highly promising right-handed relief pitcher in the New York Mets organization. Selected in the 8th round (233rd overall) of the 2024 MLB Draft out of the University of Oklahoma, he's quickly emerged as one of the system's most exciting bullpen arms due to his elite velocity and strikeout ability. As of November 2025, the 23-year-old is still in the minors, primarily with High-A Brooklyn, and is viewed as a potential future closer or high-leverage reliever—perhaps even a successor to Edwin Díaz down the line.Background and College CareerPersonal Details: Born September 2, 2002, in Chanhassen, Minnesota. Stands 6'3" and weighs 222 lbs, with a durable build honed by unconventional training (he once drank 30 raw eggs daily for a month to bulk up).

Path to the Pros: Lambert's college journey involved transfers, starting at North Iowa Area Community College (NJCAA) in 2022, then Missouri State in 2023, before landing at Oklahoma in 2024. At Oklahoma, he appeared in 23 games as a closer/reliever, posting a 2.57 ERA over 21 innings with 19 strikeouts and a 4-0 record. His arm strength turned heads, including a 102 mph fastball against Wichita State in 2023—he's an admitted "adrenaline guy" who thrives in high-pressure spots.

Draft Appeal: Mets scout Skip Johnson (his Oklahoma coach) praised his fastball but emphasized secondary development. Lambert signed for $172,500 and debuted professionally in 2024, logging limited innings due to his low-mileage arm (just 56 total college innings since 2022). 

Professional PerformanceLambert's pro career has been electric, especially in 2025. He's been used exclusively as a reliever, averaging under an inning per outing in college and continuing that trend in the minors. Key highlights:2025 Stats (High-A Brooklyn): In early outings, he boasted a 65% strikeout rate (an absurd 60-65% K% overall in limited samples), 0.02 FIP, and 0.57 WHIP over ~7 innings. He's allowed minimal damage while missing bats at an elite clip.

Spring Training/Breakout: In the 2025 Spring Breakout game, he threw 97 mph multiple times but showed command issues (2 walks, 1 run in 1 IP). Still, his raw stuff excited scouts.

Overall Projection: Mets officials see him as a "classic two-pitch reliever" with upside for more. His mechanics (high-three-quarters slot, short arm action) generate power but can lead to walks (7.3 BB/9 in college). If he refines control, he could rocket through the system—Mets have a track record of fast-tracking relievers like José Buttó. 

Pitch Repertoire

Lambert's arsenal is built for overpowering hitters, led by one of the hardest fastballs in the minors. It's a high-velocity,two-pitch mix right now, with room to expand. 

97-102 (sits 98)

Elite "rising" action with +20 inches of induced vertical break (iVB), creating an optical illusion of upward movement. Set MLB Draft League records at 100.4 and 100.7 mph in 2024. 31.2% whiff rate (double NCAA average). Generates tons of groundballs (56% GB rate career).

Primary pitch (60-70% usage est.); his "out" pitch for two-strike counts. Mets love its carry and deception.

Sinker (or Cutter-like variation)

95-98

Heavier, with more arm-side run and less vertical break when thrown harder. Can flatten out into a cutter profile.

Secondary offering for inducing weak contact; pairs well with fastball for tunneling. Helps vs. righties.

Slider

84-88 (est.)

Developing sweeper-style breaker with horizontal movement; still raw but shows promise for whiffs.

Early-career pitch (low usage); focus of Mets' development to complement his heat. Potential third pitch. 

Lambert's stuff plays up in short bursts, making him ideal for late innings. He's expressed confidence in pushing his fastball even higher ("no limit to what I can do"), and his groundball tendencies (56% career) limit hard contact. Challenges include walk rate and adding a reliable off-speed pitch, but at 23 with minimal wear, his ceiling is a dominant closer.If you're a Mets fan, keep an eye on him—he's the kind of adrenaline-fueled arm that could light up Citi Field soon

MACK – In my book, Lambert is shoe-in for the Mets pen in 2027. Maybe even as a closer if the Mets can’t make a deal with Diaz and go short term in 2026. Just electric shit here and, when he is paired with Dylan Ross someday, is going to be one hellava nasty back-end portion of the Mets bullpen.

Mitch Keller

LINK

Another name we should expect to see trade rumors about is Pittsburgh Pirates starter Mitch Keller. His extension is going to finally hit Bob Nutting where it hurts. Escalating salaries topping $16+, $18+, and finally $20+ million over the next three seasons, he’s always going to be a speculated trade option while the Pirates are run the way they are. Keller finished the year with his best ERA since 2022 at 4.19, slightly better than the last two seasons, but a poor 6-15 record and lower WAR. Crunch the numbers any way you want. Keller was 3-10 with a 3.48 ERA in the first half. He ended the year with a 3-5 record and 5.65 ERA in his final dozen starts. August is where the brunt of the damage was done, pitching to a 6.52 ERA in those 6 starts. Keller’s lack of postseason/big game experience should have him immediately falling far behind some of the other choices out there. His Halloween house is all decorative with average candy in the bowl.

Mets fan survey results

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6757524/2025/10/29/mets-fan-survey-results-2025/

How would you grade Juan Soto’s first season in Queens?

A             -              48%

B             -              45%

C             -              6%

D             -              1%

F              -              0%

So, the talk radio callers aren’t wholly representative of the fan base?

3 unspecified NY Mets roster additions they’ll definitely make in November

https://risingapple.com/ny-mets-roster-3-additions-make-november?utm_source=bleacherreport&utm_medium=referral&_branch_match_id=1408222371212362866&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXTyrSSywo0MvJzMvWDylPy%2FN18cgPj0iyrytKTUstKsrMS49PKsovL04tsnXOKMrPTQUAQHjd1DkAAAA%3D

2) The Mets will sign a veteran to a minor league deal and he’ll be one of their best pitchers in 2026

It was October when the Mets signed Chris Devenski. In November, they added Rico Garcia to the organization. One could make an argument that both were significant albeit sparingly used players this past year.

Although it didn’t work out both in length and production, the Mets also added Genesis Cabrera in the latter part of November. November is clearly a month to add players of their ilk. Many looking for an opportunity to get back to the major leagues will gladly take a minor league deal.

Bad Contract for Bad Contract

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The Houston Astros will be scouring the market for rotation upgrades right alongside the Mets. They're set to lose co-ace Framber Valdez, but could use depth throughout as well. Unfortunately for them, they'll have a limited budget to work with, thanks in part to the three-year, $60 million contract they doled out to first baseman Christian Walker last winter.

 

Walker was a major disappointment for them, slashing just .238/.297/.421 in 2025. Ridding themselves of his contract is a major priority, and that's exactly where the Mets come in.

MLB Trade Rumors Nick Deeds (subscription required) threw out the idea of Houston calling up the Mets about swapping Walker for either Sean Manaea or Kodai Senga. Walker is a first baseman, but why would the Mets settle for one who posted a 99 wRC+ and is owed $40 million over the next two years?

 

The Way-Too-Early 2026 MLB Power Rankings

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13. New York Mets

2025 Record: 83-79

Final 2025 Power Ranking: 14

Notable free agents and options: 1B Pete Alonso (player), RP Edwin Díaz (player), OF Cedric Mullins, SP Frankie Montas, RP Ryan Helsley, RP Tyler Rogers, RP Gregory Soto, RP Brooks Raley (club), OF Starling Marte

First baseman Alonso has already declared his intention to opt out, meaning the Mets will have to either re-sign him — which is what they did last winter — or else find some way to replace his power production. Maybe they’ll want to shake up their offensive core, anyway. The Mets also have little choice but to address this bullpen. Not only does closer Díaz have an offseason opt-out, but also all of the team’s midseason bullpen additions — which backfired, anyway — are heading to free agency. Will president of baseball operations David Stearns break from form and invest in a high-end starter? The Mets have rotation depth, but they lack a true No. 1

 

One offseason mistake each NL East team regrets

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New York Mets

Biggest offseason mistake: Refusing to add an ace

David Stearns was willing to give Juan Soto the richest contract in MLB history this past offseason, but when it comes to pitchers, he's proven to be less inclined to spend much, even with Steve Cohen's money at his disposal. In both of his offseasons with the New York Mets, Stearns has elected to prioritize reclamation projects and finding bargains over getting an established ace to lead the staff. The starting rotation exceeded expectations in 2024, but it was the reason the Mets missed the playoffs in 2025.

The Mets can hope guys like Sean Manaea, David Peterson and Kodai Senga bounce back, and they can hope Nolan McLean is a star in his first full season, but there are a lot of ifs when looking at their 2026 rotation on paper right now. Adding a frontline arm would give the Mets much-needed certainty at the top of their rotation.

How to avoid repeating biggest offseason mistake: Trade for Tarik Skubal

The easiest move for the Mets to make would be to sign a free agent starter, but Stearns is vehemently against spending big money on starters. With that in mind, why not trade for Tarik Skubal? Sure, the Detroit Tigers will have to want to trade him, but if they're willing to part with the best pitcher in the game, the Mets should be all over him.

The Mets' farm system is as good as any, so they can overwhelm the Tigers in a trade offer. The Mets have seemingly unlimited resources, so they can expect to pay Skubal when he hits free agency after the year. They have a glaring need at the top of their rotation. This is the kind of swing teams eager to win a World Series take. If the Tigers allow them to do it, landing Skubal is the kind of move that can result in them winning the World Series for the first time in 40 years.

 

3 Scott Boras clients who would never leave if it weren't for their agent

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3B Alex Bregman, Boston Red Sox

Alex Bregman took a balloon deal, three years and $120 million, with significant deferred money, to join the Boston Red Sox last offseason. He fielded a longer-term offer from the Detroit Tigers, but the annual value was not up to snuff and thus Bregman decided to keep his options open. Now, after a productive campaign in Beantown, the former World Series champ is back on the market.

The best outcome for all parties is a reunion. Bregman is beloved in Boston and he clearly enjoyed his time at Fenway. The Red Sox have a ton of young infield talent coming up through the farm system, but this team is hoping to compete next season and there still isn't a third baseman close to Bregman's caliber on the roster. Boston can bring Bregman back as a mentor for Marcelo Mayer, Kristian Campbell and others — not to mention as a lynchpin in the lineup next to Roman Anthony.

And yet, money will win the day here. Boston was unwilling to shell out a six- or seven-year contract last winter and it's unclear if Bregman has done enough to change their minds, especially with all that in-house talent waiting in the wings. Bregman finished the season with solid numbers — .273 average and .821 OPS (128 OPS+), knocking 18 home runs in 433 at-bats — but his production was uneven overall. Bregman was electric for a few months to start the campaign, but he finished ice-cold as injuries took their toll and disrupted his rhyhtm. He's another year older now, and Boston could be convinced to pursue other options if Bregman is too stingy with his demands. Time will tell.

MetCast               @MetCastPod

Jett Williams growing up, the focus was always on hitting—being able to play anywhere required it. Defense became important later, but the mindset of always wanting to improve hitting was constant