The Mets know the bullpen can’t be patched together with hope alone this winter.
After shipping out four of their most trusted relievers at the trade deadline in August, New York heads into the offseason needing multiple high-leverage arms. Daniel Duarte and Nate Lavender gave the club something to build on late in the year, but neither comes with much big league mileage. Reed Garrett’s return from Tommy John surgery should help, yet this postseason has made one thing clear: having more than one shutdown reliever matters.
That puts the Mets in the market for impact, but also for efficiency. Adrian Morejon and David Bednar sit near the top of the free-agent class, though both figure to be expensive. With other holes still on the to-do list, David Stearns and the front office may have to be selective about where they spend.
That’s where Alex Vesia fits.
The Dodgers left-hander has been one of the steadiest pieces in their bullpen for six seasons, and while he doesn’t carry the same name recognition as some of Los Angeles’ stars, he has arguably been its most valuable reliever over that span. He just turned in another strong year, finishing with a 2.64 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 58 innings. He was also particularly sharp against left-handed hitters, limiting them to a .471 OPS in 2026.
For the Mets, that matters. They dealt away Brooks Raley and A.J.
Minter, their two best left-handed relievers, and now the depth chart is thin. Lavender, Jefry Yan, Cionel Perez and Philip Abner make up the current left-handed options, and that group does not exactly scream late-inning certainty.
Vesia would give them more than a specialist, though. He handled right-handed hitters too, holding them to a .155 batting average, which makes him usable in just about any pocket of a game. That kind of flexibility is part of why he stands out in this market.
What makes Vesia even more interesting is how he gets it done. His delivery makes the ball tough to read, even though his four-seam fastball averages just 92.1 mph. He doesn’t win by overpowering hitters the way some other free-agent relievers do, and that could keep his price below the top of the market.
Morejon, by contrast, could push toward a contract near $100 million. Vesia is projected more in the range of three years and $36 million, which may allow the Mets to protect resources for another priority, especially in the rotation.
Still, his price could rise. Vesia has a strong October track record, posting a 1.59 ERA in 31 postseason appearances, and that kind of résumé tends to travel well in free agency.
Outside of Devin Williams, the Mets don’t have a proven high-leverage reliever of Vesia’s caliber. Even if they land him, they’d still need another veteran arm. But if the goal is to find a reliever who can make an immediate difference without blowing up the budget, Vesia checks a lot of boxes.
In Other News...
Mets Look Ready To Move On From Mark Vientos For Good
Mark Vientos has become one of the more obvious names to watch as the Mets look ahead, especially with several clubs around the league trying to patch holes at first base or designated hitter. Arizona, San Diego and Cleveland each make some sense as landing spots because each has a need that Vientos could help fill, and for a team looking to trim costs, his profile could be attractive enough to keep in the conversation even without a big market bidding war.
For the Mets, the bigger picture is less about one specific trade partner than the sense that a change may be coming sooner rather than later. None of the interest being floated is confirmed, and theres no official transaction on the board yet, but the fit with those three teams does underline how movable Vientos could be if New York decides to keep reshaping the roster around other priorities. [Read more 🡒]
Mets Reunion Could Shape The Next Step For Several Key Bats
The Mets are at a familiar crossroads on the hitting side, with the club scheduled to meet with Kevin Long about a possible role on the staff. Long is no stranger to Queens, having guided the lineup during the teams 2015 World Series run, and he arrives on the market after being let go by the Phillies following five seasons in Philadelphia.
His possible return comes at an important moment for a group of bats that still need direction, especially after the Mets moved on from director of hitting Jeff Albert after the regular season. If Long ends up back in the organization, his presence could have real impact on the development paths of players like Brett Baty, A.J. Ewing and Jared Young, which is why this interview could matter well beyond a routine coaching search. [Read more 🡒]
Mets Took A Big Center Field Gamble And Fans Can Finally Judge It
When the Mets made the move to bring in Luis Robert Jr. to man center field, the idea was straightforward: stabilize a premium defensive spot and get more offense out of it. Instead, back issues sent Robert to the Injured List for a significant stretch, and A.J. Ewing quietly went from fill-in to everyday center fielder while the club waited for the original plan to sort itself out.
By the time Robert was ready to return, the Mets had already made their choice about where the long-term value was. Ewings role only grew in Roberts absence, and the organization ultimately let Robert go on waivers to the Orioles rather than hold onto a player tied to a $20 million option. It left New York with a clearer picture of the gamble it took in center field, even if the final evaluation will keep unfolding from here. [Read more 🡒]