The New York Mets aren’t just tinkering around the edges anymore-they’re reshaping the bullpen with purpose. Fresh off the Luis Robert Jr. acquisition, the Mets have reportedly agreed to a deal with veteran reliever Luis Garcia, a move that could round out their 2026 bullpen picture.
Now, to clear up the confusion: yes, there are multiple Luis Garcias in the league, but the one heading to Queens is the nearly 39-year-old right-hander with 13 seasons of big-league experience under his belt. And while he’s not the flashiest name on the market, he brings something the Mets clearly value-reliability and a knack for keeping the ball on the ground.
Garcia’s 2025 season was a bit of a whirlwind. He started the year with the Dodgers, was released midseason, signed with the Nationals, and eventually landed with the Angels.
That’s three teams in one year, but despite the movement, his performance stayed steady. He posted a 3.42 ERA across those stops, and perhaps more importantly, kept generating ground balls at a healthy clip-48.4% overall, and north of 50% during his time with both the Dodgers and Nationals.
That ground ball rate isn’t a fluke either. Over his career, Garcia has induced grounders at a 53.8% clip. In today’s game, where launch angles and home run trajectories dominate the conversation, a guy who can keep the ball out of the air still has real value-especially in a Mets bullpen that’s looking to replace some key innings.
Garcia isn’t a stranger to the Mets’ radar either. Back at the 2024 trade deadline, when he was with the Angels, New York was reportedly interested in bringing him aboard.
He ended up in Boston instead, where things didn’t go so well-an 8.22 ERA in limited action-but the peripherals told a more forgiving story. The Mets clearly saw enough to stay interested.
So where does he fit? Think of Garcia as a hybrid piece-someone who can take on the sixth inning if needed, while also soaking up some of the ground-ball-heavy responsibilities vacated by Tyler Rogers.
In that way, he’s a bit of a two-for-one replacement, covering the roles Rogers and Reed Garrett played last season. He also becomes the third free-agent reliever the Mets have signed this offseason, signaling that the front office may be done chasing bullpen arms-at least for now.
Of course, this move will require a corresponding roster adjustment. One name that could be on the bubble is Richard Lovelady, who’s on a split contract and may be a candidate for DFA if the Mets think they can sneak him through waivers. There are a couple of other arms who could be at risk too, but we’ll see how the front office plays it.
Bottom line: this is a savvy, low-risk addition for a team that’s been steadily building out its bullpen with complementary pieces. Garcia won’t dominate the headlines, but his experience, ground ball tendencies, and versatility could make him a valuable cog in a Mets bullpen that’s quietly shaping up to be a strength in 2026.