Reese Kaplan -- How Does the Revamped Mets Pen Look Now?

The Luke Weaver signing was a well guarded roster move that no one had specifically anticipated happening.  He’s a familiar face, of course, having spent most of the last few years across town with the Yankees.  Right away you hear the usual, “He can play in New York!” cheers from the Mets fan faithful who praise any former Yankees as a bit of a slap in the face to the Bronx Bombers.  
 

Of course, not everyone who plays for the Yankees succeeds wildly.  You don’t have to look any further than the new Mets closer, Devin Williams, who was booed out of town after turning in his career worst performance and sometimes having lost closing duties.  He and Weaver performed together there but the level of dominance was spotty at best.
 

In Williams’ case it’s easier to forgive and to understand between his long term relationship with David Stearns and his most definitely dominant metrics.  If you think clearly even Edwin Diaz had a few less than stellar years while wearing a Mets uniform, so it is possible to mix the good and bad together for a still formidable back of the baseball card.
 

For Luke Weaver, however, things are far less rosy.  Yes, his 2024 season was one for the setup guy hall of fame.  In that year he delivered in 62 games with a WHIP well under 1.000 while whiffing nearly 12 per 9 innings pitched and walking 2.8.  His ERA for that season was a very respectable 2.89.  
 

Unfortunately before and after that stellar season Weaver was far less difficult for opposing hitters to master.  We’ll forego his years as a failed starter and instead just focus on how he’s performed out of the pen.  

From 2022 through 2025 he’s pitched to a much less impressive 4.88 ERA overall including 3.66 this past year after the Yankees let him walk away.  He struck out a still respectable but far less standout 8.9 per 9 IP while walking about the same 2.9.  How bad are those numbers?  Well, former Mets Ryne Stanek, Phil Maton, Tyler Rogers and current Met Husascar Brazoban all have much better career numbers than does Weaver. 

So is Stearns done reshaping the Mets bullpen for 2026?  It’s hard to say.  Right now after these two former Yankees you have the recovering A.J. Minter and Brooks Raley on board for sure.  For half a pen that’s really not bad at all.  After that, well, there are question marks.  Pretty much everyone expects the experienced but not outstanding Brazoban to be a part of the mix.  After that it is a bit less clear.

Recovering pitcher Adbert Alzolay is a true wildcard here.  His 2023 season was comparable to what Weaver did in 2024.  While a Cub he appeared in a 58 games (including 22 saves) while earning a 2.67 ERA, a WHIP a hair over 1.000 and under 2 walks per 9 IP while fanning 9.4.  Those are certainly numbers to catch someone’s attention.  Unfortunately he appeared in just 18 games in 2024 before he needed TJS.  He’s pitching winter ball right now so it’s expected if healthy he’s going to be a part of the revamped pen as well.  That’s 6 notable relievers out of the probable eight needed to support the starters.

After that it’s a mish-mosh of possibilities and also-rans like Cooper Criswell or Dickie Lovelady, though it’s possible some other failed starters could be auditioned as long men.  The job is not done but thus far it’s a fairly respectable rebuild if not ideal.