The Mets’ bullpen is going through a serious transformation heading into 2026. After a winter of high turnover, the group that takes the mound this spring will look very different from the one fans saw last season.
Big names have departed-Edwin Díaz is now with the Dodgers, while Tyler Rogers and Ryan Helsley have taken their talents to the AL East. Injuries have taken their toll too, with Reed Garrett and Dedniel Nuñez both sidelined for the year following Tommy John surgeries.
But it hasn’t been all loss. The Mets made some notable additions, headlined by the signing of Devin Williams, one of the nastiest relievers in the game when he’s locked in.
They also brought in Luke Weaver, added Luis García, and picked up Tobias Myers in the Freddy Peralta trade. Still, this bullpen isn’t set in stone.
There’s going to be competition this spring, and the front office seems ready to mix and match until they find the right formula.
One name to keep an eye on? Craig Kimbrel.
Yes, that Craig Kimbrel-the flame-throwing closer who once terrorized hitters with his high-octane fastball and signature pre-pitch stance. Now 35 and signed to a minor league deal with an invite to big league camp, Kimbrel is trying to prove he’s still got something left in the tank. And while he’s no longer the dominant force he once was, there’s reason to believe he could still carve out a role in this revamped Mets bullpen.
Let’s talk resume. Kimbrel’s career numbers speak for themselves: a 2.58 ERA over 821.2 innings, 1,282 strikeouts, a 1.020 WHIP, and 440 career saves-fifth all-time. His 159 ERA+ shows just how consistently above average he’s been, and his 22.7 career bWAR puts him in elite territory for relievers, right alongside contemporaries like Kenley Jansen and Aroldis Chapman.
But let’s be real-most of that dominance came in the earlier chapters of his career. From 2010 to 2018, Kimbrel was a force of nature.
In those nine seasons, he posted a ridiculous 1.80 ERA with 772 strikeouts in 470.1 innings, 291 saves, and a microscopic 0.910 WHIP. He earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2011, made nine All-Star teams, and regularly found himself in Cy Young and MVP conversations.
That version of Kimbrel was one of the most feared closers in the game.
Since signing with the Cubs in 2019, though, the numbers have come back to earth. He’s logged a 3.83 ERA in 289 innings over the last seven seasons, with 107 saves-less than a quarter of his career total.
His strikeout rate has dipped, his WHIP has climbed to 1.204, and his ERA+ has settled at 110. He’s still been serviceable, but not the shutdown guy he once was.
Over that stretch, he’s added just 2.9 WAR to his career total.
Even so, there were flashes last season that suggest he might still have something to offer. In a small sample-just 12 innings split between two teams, mostly with the Astros-Kimbrel posted a 2.25 ERA with 17 strikeouts.
He didn’t notch any saves and his WHIP was a bloated 1.417, but his ERA+ was an impressive 197, and he managed 0.4 WAR in that limited action. It wasn’t vintage Kimbrel, but it was enough to show he can still get outs in high-leverage spots.
That’s the version the Mets are hoping to see this spring. With at least one or two bullpen spots up for grabs, Kimbrel will get a real shot to earn his place. And if he can channel even a bit of the dominance from his prime-or simply provide reliable innings as a veteran arm-he could become a valuable piece of a Mets bullpen looking for stability and experience.
It’s a low-risk move with potential upside. Kimbrel’s not being asked to be the guy anymore.
He’s being asked to be a guy-someone who can come in, throw strikes, and get outs when it matters. And if he can do that, this bullpen might have found itself a savvy veteran addition with a Hall of Fame pedigree.