The New York Mets’ bullpen makeover is picking up steam, and we’re learning more about what it’s going to look like on a seemingly daily basis. It’s almost reminiscent of September, when the Mets were making helter-skelter pitching moves, but GM David Stearns’ moves these days are a lot more organized.
The latest add is Luke Weaver from the Yankees, and the reliever who gets the gate with Weaver coming in is Brandon Waddell, who was designated for assignment, with teh move reported by Jack Sargent of MetsMerized Online. Meanwhile, the Mets also claimed catcher Drew Romo from the Baltimore Orioles in what is likely an unrelated depth move.
Waddell wasn’t necessarily bad for the Mets. Indeed, he posted a 3.45 ERA in 11 appearances over 31-1/3 innings, which was brilliant by Mets standards this year. He also threw 75-1/3 innings at Syracuse, according to Sargent, where he had a more problematic 5.02 ERA.
Before that, though, Waddell was out of the big leagues for four years, with his latest big league action coming in 2021 for multiple teams, mostly the St. Louis Cardinals. Everything about his career screams “journeyman,” and his performance numbers are all over the map.
The Mets ended up having to use all kinds of pitchers like Waddell this year, and Stearns has seen enough. He punted on resigning closer Edwin Diaz and went with former New York Yankees closer Devin Williams, and now he’s building out the bullpen arms to get to Williams to close.
Hurlers like Waddell don’t fit that scenario. He’ll probably turn up in spring training somewhere, most likely with a minor-league deal with a spring invite, so the 31-yeard old Waddell will get a chance to stick somewhere.
But not with the Mets. Stearns may have another arm or two to add to the 2026 pen, but the numbers game indicates that he’s close to done. Every pitcher he’s signed has been relatively low-cost, too, so Stearns is setting himself up for a lot of questions if multiple relievers fail.
Stearns doesn’t seem to care about this in the least, though, and that’s good news for Mets fans right now. His next move is probably a trade or signing to shore up the outfield now that left fielder Brandon Nimmo is gone, and it will be intriguing to see if Stearns continues to be as methodical as he has been to date.