The Mets made a quiet but notable roster move this week, outrighting left-hander Brandon Waddell to Triple-A after designating him for assignment to clear space for newly added catcher Drew Romo on the 40-man roster. It’s a procedural shuffle on the surface, but it also paints a clearer picture of where Waddell stands in the Mets’ pitching hierarchy as they head into 2026.
Waddell, now 31, made his return to the big leagues in 2025 after a four-year absence. His last major league innings came back in 2021, and prior to this season, he’d logged just 12 2/3 innings at the MLB level across four different clubs between 2020 and 2021. The numbers back then weren’t exactly inspiring - a 5.68 ERA paired with a 6.41 FIP - but this season with the Mets, he offered something a bit steadier.
Across 31 1/3 innings out of the bullpen, Waddell posted a 3.45 ERA. On the surface, that’s a respectable mark for a long relief arm, especially in a season where the Mets’ bullpen had its share of ups and downs.
But a deeper dive into his peripherals tells a more cautious story. His strikeout rate sat at just 16.4%, and he wasn’t exactly inducing weak contact either - a 10.0% barrel rate and 37.4% ground ball rate suggest hitters were squaring him up more than you'd like to see from a reliable middle reliever.
Add in an 8.2% walk rate, and it’s clear that while Waddell kept runs off the board, it wasn’t always in convincing fashion.
Before returning stateside, Waddell spent three seasons in the KBO with the Doosan Bears, where he found a groove. In 43 starts overseas, he posted a 2.98 ERA with a 21.1% strikeout rate and a ground ball rate north of 50%. That’s the kind of profile that tends to translate well for pitchers looking to earn another MLB shot - and it’s likely what earned Waddell his look with the Mets in the first place.
But his 2025 season in Triple-A didn’t do him many favors. Over 75 1/3 innings, Waddell struggled to a 5.02 ERA, failing to replicate the command and consistency he showed in Korea. That uneven performance makes it tough to project him as anything more than organizational depth heading into spring training.
Still, in a Mets rotation picture that remains in flux, Waddell’s not entirely out of the conversation. Injuries happen, and if the Mets’ frontline arms falter or their young arms - like Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat - aren’t quite ready for the full leap, a veteran like Waddell could find himself back in the mix. He’s not going to be mistaken for a high-upside rotation piece like Erick Fedde, who made a strong MLB return after his own KBO stint, but Waddell brings experience and innings - and that has value, especially over a long 162-game grind.
Of course, much will depend on how the rest of the Mets’ offseason plays out. If the front office adds more proven arms to the rotation, that could push younger pitchers into depth roles and make Waddell’s path back to the majors even steeper. On the flip side, if the Mets decide to move one of their young right-handers in a trade, Waddell could slide up the depth chart as a next-man-up option alongside fellow non-roster arm Robert Stock.
For now, Waddell heads into 2026 as a veteran lefty with some big-league experience, a solid KBO track record, and a shot - however slim - to pitch his way back into the conversation if things break his way.