This is the second part of a five-part Around the Horn series detailing the Mets’ roster heading into 2026. Next up: Bullpen.
NEW YORK -- When members of the Mets’ relief corps report to Port St. Lucie, Fla., this month, the story will be more about who’s not present than who is. Edwin Díaz’s decision to sign with the Dodgers on a three-year, $69 million contract left the Mets with a significant hole at the back of their bullpen. Díaz had been the Mets’ primary closer since 2019, becoming a fan favorite along the way. Now, he is a member of a National League rival.
But the Mets did not let Díaz walk without a plan to replace him. Keying that strategy is Devin Williams, the former Brewers and Yankees closer who signed with the Mets on a three-year, $51 million contract. Replacing Díaz may be a big ask, but the Mets are confident Williams can do it.
Beyond that, president of baseball operations David Stearns built his bullpen using a mix of veteran arms on reasonable contracts and a slew of younger pitchers who will compete for spots. The Mets have plenty of potential in the bullpen, even if they don’t know yet -- can’t know yet -- exactly what this mix will look like on Opening Day.
On the 40-man roster: Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, A.J. Minter, Brooks Raley, Luis García, Huascar Brazobán, Tobias Myers, Alex Carrillo, Joey Gerber, Jonathan Pintaro, Dylan Ross, Austin Warren
Injured: Reed Garrett, Dedniel Núñez
Notable departures: Edwin Díaz, Ryne Stanek, Tyler Rogers, Ryan Helsley, Gregory Soto
Notable non-roster invitees: Craig Kimbrel, Carl Edwards Jr., Joe Jacques, Nick Burdi, Anderson Severino, Daniel Duarte, Robert Stock
The projected bullpen
Of the names above, four are Opening Day locks: Williams, Weaver, Raley and García. With Díaz gone to Los Angeles, Williams will serve as the Mets’ closer, a role he manned for years in both Milwaukee and the Bronx. Williams is not Díaz, but he was probably the next-best thing on this year’s market. Behind him, Weaver, Raley and García are accomplished leverage relievers. All but Raley are new to Flushing.
Minter would also be a lock to make the team if he were not finalizing his rehab from a torn left lat muscle, which cost him most of last season. There’s still a chance Minter can make the club out of camp, but even if he doesn’t, Mets officials expect him to be there after a minimum stay on the injured list.
Any competition?
Beyond the five pitchers mentioned above, as many as three bullpen jobs are up for grabs. On paper, Brazobán and Myers should be favorites for two of them, unless the Mets decide they’re better served with Myers staying stretched out as a starting pitcher. In any case, Spring Training will play host to some significant competition. Keep an eye on the 37-year-old likely future Hall of Famer, Kimbrel, who’s fighting to keep his career alive.
Challenging him will be a slew of hard-throwing youngsters, including Pintaro, Ross, Lambert and Carrillo. All four of those pitchers have Minor League options and figure to shuttle between New York and Triple-A Syracuse throughout the year.
What about the future?
The Mets thought highly enough of Ross to call him up on the final weekend of last season, although the young right-hander never wound up pitching. Two years ago, they drafted Lambert in hopes that he could have a similar impact. Between those two, Pintaro, Carrillo and others, the Mets believe they’ll finally be able to pump optionable bullpen talent consistently to the Majors. That’s been a notable shortcoming for them in years past.