With the trade deadline two weeks away and the Mets sliding into sell mode, A.J. Minter has quietly become one of the more interesting names on the board.
The 32-year-old left-hander is under team control through the 2026 season, but this feels like a short stay in Queens. He’s the kind of bullpen arm plenty of contenders can use, and the Mets can likely turn him into a useful return.
Minter has been sharp in his limited work this season. Through 20 appearances, he owns a 1.71 ERA with 18 strikeouts and a 0.95 WHIP. In an interview with NJ.com reporter Max Goodman earlier this week, Minter said he had a message and a goal for the next two weeks with the Mets.
The Brewers look like a natural landing spot. Milwaukee has never been shy about avoiding long-term spending, so taking on a rental reliever fits their style.
More importantly, they need another left-handed arm they can trust in big spots. Aaron Ashby has been their top lefty option, and while he has a 3.43 ERA in 47 appearances and leads MLB with a 12-2 record, he has also blown five saves.
DL Hall’s absence has only thinned the group further.
Minter would give them a proven late-inning weapon with October experience from his time in Atlanta, including the Braves’ 2021 World Series run. He has also been one of the best pitchers in the league at avoiding walks, with a 1.3% walk rate. A deal for him likely wouldn’t require Milwaukee to give up a premium prospect, either.
The Cubs are another fit that makes sense for similar reasons. Chicago needs arms anywhere it can find them, and its bullpen has leaned heavily on right-handers in high-leverage spots.
Ryan Rolison has done solid work as a mid-game option, posting a 2.61 ERA in 34 games while holding opponents to a .233 average. Caleb Thielbar has handled the left-handed leverage role, but his 4.34 ERA, plus two saves and three blown saves, leaves plenty to be desired.
Hoby Milner has been out since June 25 with appendicitis and is expected back in early August. Even with that return, Minter would give the Cubs another dependable late-inning option behind Daniel Palencia. Chicago and New York already completed a trade this offseason, with the Cubs acquiring David Peterson for No. 12 prospect Caleb Mathis, so there’s recent history between the two clubs.
If the Mets and Cubs line up again, Chicago’s No. 10 pitching prospect Kaleb Wing is a name to watch. The 2025 fourth-round pick is 19 and works with a fastball in the 90-96 range. In six Single-A starts, he has a 2.76 ERA with 24 strikeouts, 12 walks, and a .186 opponent average.
Cleveland also fits the profile. The Guardians keep winning despite operating with a modest payroll, and their bullpen is strong overall, but they do not have a dominant lefty built for playoff matchups against elite left-handed hitters. Minter’s postseason track record would check that box.
Erik Sabrowski is currently their only active left-hander in the bullpen, and he has a 3.54 ERA in 36 appearances with opponents hitting .173 against him. Tim Herrin has also been part of the mix, with a 3.06 ERA in 41 games, but he landed on the IL on July 8 and is expected back within the next week or so.
For a return from Cleveland, the Mets should be looking at No. 9 pitching prospect Joey Oakie. The 20-year-old has a fastball in the 94-98 range and a mid-80s slider, giving him one of the best two-pitch looks in the system.
The results have been rough so far - a 6.75 ERA in 13 Single-A starts, with 56 strikeouts, 42 walks, and a 1.94 WHIP - but he’s still a developmental arm with upside. The 2024 third-round pick could be a long-term project for New York if the Mets decide to move Minter.
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Among the names being floated is Tyrone Taylor, whose profile gives Philadelphia a different kind of look than some of the other rental bats out there. Lane Thomas of the Royals is also in the mix, and the comparison matters because the Phillies are weighing affordability, fit and whether they want a player with more on-base value or more pop as they try to improve the roster without creating another problem elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]