With Pete Alonso no longer the centerpiece of their off-season, the Mets wasted no time pivoting to Plan B, assembling a bullpen that could strike fear into opposing lineups. Their signing of Jesse Winker kicked off a small spending spree, but the real game-changer was landing star left-handed reliever A.J. Minter on a two-year, $22 million deal.
Pairing Minter with Edwin Diaz gives the Mets a dangerous one-two punch at the back end of games, a duo that could be the difference-maker in tight contests.
A.J. Minter: Lefty Precision
A.J. Minter arrives in Queens as one of the best left-handed relievers in baseball, fresh off an impressive 2024 campaign with the Atlanta Braves. Over 34.1 innings, Minter posted a 2.62 ERA, striking out 9.17 batters per nine innings while leaving an eye-popping 94.2% of runners stranded. His 45.9% ground ball rate adds an extra layer of reliability, ensuring that even when batters make contact, it rarely leads to significant damage.
Minter’s weaponry is simple yet devastating. His four-seam fastball, which averaged 94.5 mph last season, held hitters to a .208 batting average, and his cutter—a go-to strikeout pitch—collected 18 strikeouts on just 34.5% usage with a .229 batting average against.
For variety, Minter mixes in a change-up at 17.8% usage, a pitch that limited hitters to a ridiculous .120 batting average. This arsenal makes Minter a perfect late-inning weapon, especially against left-handed hitters.
Adding Minter gives the Mets something they’ve sorely lacked: a dominant left-handed arm to complement the right-handed flamethrowers already in their bullpen.
Edwin Diaz: The Anchor
While Minter brings balance, Edwin Diaz remains the anchor of the Mets bullpen. Known for his electric stuff, Diaz combines a high-velocity fastball with one of the league’s nastiest sliders. Though his 2024 numbers weren’t as dominant as usual—he posted a 3.52 ERA—his 2.49 expected ERA suggests he was a victim of bad luck. Over 53.2 innings, Diaz struck out an absurd 14.09 batters per nine innings, proving his swing-and-miss stuff is as lethal as ever.
Diaz’s struggles last season came down to two key issues: an increase in walks and a sudden uptick in home runs allowed. Despite these hiccups, his 73.2% left-on-base rate and 44% ground ball rate show he still has the ability to escape jams. With better run support and cleaner mechanics, Diaz is poised for a bounce-back season that could return him to his role as one of the most dominant closers in the game.
A Dynamic Late-Inning Duo
With Minter and Diaz, the Mets have created a bullpen duo that can shut down games in a variety of ways. Minter’s ability to neutralize left-handed hitters and induce ground balls complements Diaz’s overpowering fastball-slider combination. Together, they give the Mets a flexible and devastating pairing that can handle high-leverage situations against any lineup.
The Mets might also have another ace up their sleeve. If Clay Holmes, currently penciled in as a starter, transitions back to a relief role, he could add yet another layer of depth to this already stacked bullpen. His ground ball-heavy approach and ability to generate weak contact would further strengthen the Mets’ late-inning options.
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By locking in Minter and relying on Diaz to regain his dominant form, the Mets have turned their bullpen into a fortress. Whether it’s preserving tight leads or bailing out starters on a short leash, this dynamic duo could be the secret weapon that helps the Mets navigate a highly competitive National League in 2025.