One year after the Mets took a quick, ugly exit from the Luis Garcia experiment, David Stearns looks like he’s in a much different spot this offseason.
Garcia was signed last winter for $1.75 million, with incentives included, and the idea was simple enough: bring in a veteran arm who could help round out the bullpen. It didn’t last.
The 39-year-old was designated for assignment after just six games, carrying a 7.11 ERA with him out the door on April 14. He later posted a 10.38 ERA in a short run with the Minnesota Twins, making him one of those early additions that never came close to working.
The move wasn’t unreasonable on paper. Garcia had just finished a season with a 3.42 ERA, and as an experienced big league reliever, he fit the profile of a low-cost depth pickup. But it also turned into a mistake Stearns probably won’t have much reason to make again this winter.
The reason is simple: the Mets already have bodies.
At the end of the 2025 season, the bullpen picture looked very different. Edwin Diaz, Ryan Helsley, Ryne Stanek, Tyler Rogers, Gregory Soto and likely others were headed for free agency, leaving plenty of room for outside help.
This time around, the Mets enter the offseason with zero impending free agents after Bo Bichette opted in. That changes the math completely.
Instead of needing to patch holes, the Mets may actually be dealing with too many arms. Tobias Myers, Cionel Perez and Austin Warren are all out of options and sitting in that awkward middle ground where they could be non-tendered, waived or traded. Daniel Duarte is another name worth keeping around, while Robert Stock is expected to be DFA’d at some point as the team tries to sneak him through waivers because of his split contract.
The bullpen still doesn’t have much flexibility, and that part isn’t new. The Mets have spent most recent seasons without a lot of easy shuttle spots between the majors and minors, which is why injuries and sudden cuts have mattered so much.
Last year, Garcia was one of those quick-turnover solutions. This year, that kind of move looks far less likely.
There’s still plenty to sort out. The Mets clearly need at least one high-end setup arm, and maybe even a closer to take over from Devin Williams.
Reed Garrett is another possible piece, but he’s coming off Tommy John surgery and would probably need a rehab assignment before he’s ready. Even then, he isn’t exactly the safest bet.
And with Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga still hanging around without looking like ideal rotation answers, the roster is already crowded in more than one place. Something has to move. That’s why another cheap veteran reliever on his last leg, Garcia-style, doesn’t look like the path the Mets are likely to take again.
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McLean was one of several first-year players whose production stood out even if the award ballot did not fully reflect it, and that gap is part of what makes these end-of-season debates so interesting. Chase DeLauter was mentioned in the same breath for a strong rookie showing, but for Mets fans, McLeans omission from the finalists list is the one that lingers, especially after a season that suggested he belonged in the conversation. [Read more 🡒]