Reese Kaplan -- Some Mets Firemen Are Highly Flammable

While a lot of energy has already been expended on the holes in the starting rotation, center field, designated hitter and the bench, it would seem that arguably the most glaring issue that needs to be addressed is the highly suspect collection of relievers currently on the Mets roster for the 2026 season.  Everyone knew Edwin Diaz was going to opt out and while it’s likely the team could work out a way to extend him and keep him at Citifield, the fact remains that right now he is not on the roster.  So who is...?

Going into the 2026 season if healthy the Mets start off with two formidable left handed setup guys.  Injured star A.J. Minter is supposed to be ready for the season when it begins and he’s already exercised his player option to remain a Met.  In a good year Minter is force against not just left handed hitters but righties as well.  His whole career was spent in Atlanta until last year when he went down with a lat injury eventually requiring surgery after 13 games as a Met.  For his career he’s a 3.23 ERA pitcher who has appeared in as many as 75 games per season.  Imagine having that pedigree of pitcher healthy enough to perform in a Mets uniform for the full season.

The other strong southpaw is late bloomer Brooks Raley.  He excelled with the team when he became a Met in 2023 as a 35 year old and delivered a 2.80 ERA over the course of 66 games.  Unfortunately he went on the Tommy John surgery list and missed all of 2024 before returning part way through the 2025 season.  He came back even strong with a 2.45 ERA over 30 games.  Healthy and capable of retiring hitters from both sides of the plate, it would appear that the Mets are well positioned from the left side.

Unfortunately, things don’t necessarily look good after those two strong pitchers.  How many of you remember that Adbert Alzolay is a Met?  Anyone?  Well, Alzolay was an under the radar signing during his rehab year in 2025 after coming on board as a free agent.  His last full season prior to the surgery was 2023 during which he appeared in 58 games, striking out better than one per inning pitched and giving up just 13 walks, finishing the year with a 2.67 ERA and a terrific WHIP.  No one knows how well he’ll measure up after the recovery, but the potential is there.

After that are the relievers who have no options to be returned to Syracuse, though a DFA and new contract is an approach that could be used.  This trio includes Dicky Lovelady, Brandon Waddell and Austin Warren.  They either make the team in Spring Training or they don’t. 

Then there are the relievers with options like newly acquired Joey Gerber, David Stearns’ first acquisition of this offseason.  Gerber is an interesting gamble but has very little big league experience.  He had 17 games with Seattle in 2020 and then 2 games with Tampa in 2025.  Over his 19 games of big league experience he has a respectable 3.60 ERA but less than 5 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched.  His control has been good.  In the minors he had 128 games of experience and back then averaged over 12 Ks per 9 innings pitched.  No one knows what he can deliver to the Mets but if he’s not solid he can be sent to Syracuse.

Then there are the members of the Syracuse shuttle who are on the current roster.  Huascar Brazoban has had good days and bad days.  His 2025 ending ERA was a respectable 3.57.  Justin Hagenman and Alex Carrillo are were short term options this past season with the former getting 9 games in the majors and the latter just 3.  These latter two have likely very tentative places on the roster going forward though Brazoban should likely be back. 

What it all comes down to for the Mets bullpen is they are in pretty deep trouble.  After Minter and Raley it gets pretty shaky.  They most definitely need an All Star caliber closer and perhaps another solid setup righty.