This story was excerpted from Anthony DiComo’s Mets Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
For weeks leading up to Monday’s Trade Deadline, interim manager Andy Green spoke about the silver lining of an otherwise difficult stretch of the season. Particularly in the bullpen, where the Mets expected to -- and ultimately did -- trade up to four pitchers, opportunities would emerge for younger players to write their own stories.
The first of those became reality Tuesday night at Progressive Field, where Nate Lavender froze former No. 1 overall pick Travis Bazzana with a 92.7 mph fastball near the outside corner to strand two inherited runners in the seventh inning. Lavender is a longtime Mets prospect who came close to the Majors in 2023, ultimately didn't make it, underwent both a Tommy John surgery and a bone spur operation the following year, briefly moved to the Rays in the Rule 5 Draft, then grinded in the Mets' system for another year and a half before finally making his Major League debut.
“The dugout was as alive for that punchout as it’s been in some time,” Green said. “I hope that’s a catalyst for us and brings some energy for us here.”
That, for the Mets, set a standard for the final two months of this season. Green noted that every Mets player has something or other to prove in August and September, from veterans like Francisco Lindor, Bo Bichette and even Juan Soto, to those still trying to establish themselves in the Majors.
Nowhere is that more apparent than in the bullpen. With Luke Weaver, Brooks Raley, Huascar Brazobán and A.J. Minter transferred to playoff races across the country, the bullpen has suddenly become a petri dish for players like Lavender, who hope to improve their standing over the next eight weeks. And for players like ...
Jefry Yan
The first thing to know regarding Yan is that his story is about much more than just his strikeout celebrations, which he debuted Wednesday night in a 6-5, extra-inning win over the Guardians. Yes, the celebrations are wild. Yes, at some point, they may irk some opponents (or at least some opposing fans, like the ones in Cleveland who booed Yan as he left the mound).
But the celebrations are also an expression of joy. Yan has plenty of that, considering the 12-year road he took to reach this point.
Yan has real talent, including a fastball that hit 101 mph in his debut. To stick here, he must prove he can throw strikes. He’s clearly less established than another member of this new-look bullpen …
Dedniel Núñez
Remember Núñez? At his peak in 2024, the right-hander became a trusted member of the Mets’ bullpen with a 1.88 ERA over a 21-appearance stretch from May through August. That’s when forearm and elbow trouble began dogging Núñez, who underwent Tommy John surgery last July.
Now, Núñez is healthy again, which he proved with his usual mix of upper-90s fastballs and hellish sliders on Wednesday. (Both of the runs Núñez allowed were unearned). He’ll be arbitration-eligible for the first time after this season, meaning his salary is about to rise. Which means he’s going to have to prove himself if he wants to be part of this bullpen in 2027. That puts him in an entirely different camp than …
Kodai Senga
… who doesn’t actually want to be part of this bullpen. Asked about his role switch earlier this week, Senga said he made sure to inform Mets officials that he signed with the Mets as a starter and still wants to start games for them. But Senga also acknowledged he has little leverage at the moment, given his 9.66 ERA as a starting pitcher this season.
For now, Senga will work in leverage situations out of the bullpen, as he did Tuesday in recording the final three outs of a 6-2 win over the Guardians. The Mets want to see how Senga’s velocity plays up in shorter spurts, as well as how he fares while focusing more fully on his two best pitches, his fastball and forkball. It’s not an ideal situation for Senga, who probably won’t get another chance as a starter if he struggles as a reliever. But if he performs well in leverage spots, Senga may just convince the Mets to use him that way in the final year of his contract in 2027.
“There’s a long list of pitchers who started for a long time, then went to the 'pen and eventually dominated,” Green said. “We believe he has the kind of stuff to do that.”