The New York Mets signed a pair of relievers on Thursday, bringing back memories of the bad old days of September, when the rotation and the bullpen were falling apart and pitching moves were being made on an an almost daily basis.
Okay, that’s not fair, so we’ll start with reliever Kevin Herget, then move onto to Adbert Alzolay. Herget was one of many relievers who got a cup of coffee with the Mets this year, but he actually grabbed the opportunity by the horns and pitched well during his brief time with the big club. He pitched 12 innings in six games and ended up with a 3.06 ERA as the Mets acquired him as a waiver pickup from the Atlanta Braves, according to Tim Boyle of Rising Apple.
At first glance, it’s difficult to figure out why the Mets chose Herget over Brandon Waddell, whom they released this year. Both relievers are over 30, and both are journeymen, with Herget about to pitch in his age-36 season.
Dig a little deeper, though, and you’ll see a couple of key connections. Herget also posted a 2.81 ERA at Syracuse, so the Mets got an extended look at him, so that’s one clue. The other is that Herget was with the Milwaukee Brewers back in 2024 when his ERA was 1.59, and Mets GM David Stearns still has strong ties to the Brewers organization, so that combination was likely enough to tip the scales in Herget’s favor.
Alzolay is the other receiver, and he’s been with the Chicago Cubs for the last six years, but he did have disappointing final season due to Tommy John surgery, after which he was DFAed and non-tendered, according to Rob Piersall of MetsMerized Online.
The 30-year old right-hander was signed as an international free agent back in 2013, and he made his big league debut with the Cubs in 2019. He pitched four innings of one-run ball against the Mets, coincidentally enough, but he fizzled out in 2021 during his first extended look as a starter.
Healthy and pitching exclusively in relief, Alzolay earned the nickname “The People’s Fist” after locking down 22 saves, each one ending with a celebratory fist pump. His ERA was just 2.67, and fo a time Alzolay was considered one of the most exciting arms in the game. Many of his underlying stats were impressive, so it make sense for the Mets to take a shot at rehabilitating him.