The New York Mets are leaving the light on for closer Edwin Diaz as the winter GM meetings get underway, but there’s already been a sea change of sorts. Diaz is a hard thrower who worked off his fastball, while new, erstwhile closer Devin Williams uses his changeup as his out pitch.
That might dictate a different approach to the Mets’ bullpen remake this offseason. Most teams with a hard-throwing closer usually have at least one setup man with a complete arsenal of pitches, but that could be problematic if Williams does indeed end up being the final guy.
The Mets already have one setup man who’s completely unique. Pitcher Tyler Rogers basically throws upside down, and photos of him in action often look like circus shots of an athlete trying to defy gravity. Rogers is 34, though, so his innings and appearances have to be managed carefully.
If you’re looking for possible power arms from within the organization, start with right-hander Dylan Ross. He’s a hard thrower who’s already broken the 100-mph barrier, and the 25-year old Ross posted a 2.17 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP in 49 appearances across three minor league levels. Ross got a “cup of coffee” call-up this year, and there’s a bullpen spot for him to snag if he shows well in spring training and the Mets think he’s ready.
Another name to watch is pitcher Ryan Lambert. He was drafted by the Mets in the eighth round in 2024, and he quickly rose up through the ranks to make it to Double A Binghamton. Lambert is a velocity guy who doesn’t have a third pitch at this point, but if he can make it up to Triple A, he’ll be on the radar.
Other bullpen adds are coming, perhaps as soon as this week. This is something for Mets fans to keep an eye on during the winter meetings this week—as much as the fan base wants a sexy signing or a big trade, the composition of the bullpen is a big deal. The Mets ended up playing reliever roulette down the stretch last year, and GM David Stearns knows that can’t happen again.
The Mets did make one minor move this week, adding pitcher Cooper Criswell of the Boston Red Sox to pitch in a swing role, and other moves could be coming to that part of the rotation as well. This is a big week for Stearns, and he’s already signaled that he’s ready and willing to take on the roster overhaul.