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2 NY Mets replacements for A.J. Minter to immediately consider, 1 to wait on

A.J. Minter is likely headed to the IL and the Mets need to consider more than just calling up their best lefty in AAA.
ByTim Boyle|
Apr 26, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; New York Mets pitcher A.J. Minter (33) throws to the Washington Nationals during the eighth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images
Apr 26, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; New York Mets pitcher A.J. Minter (33) throws to the Washington Nationals during the eighth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images | Brad Mills-Imagn Images

The New York Mets won on Saturday but didn’t leave unscathed. Reliever A.J. Minter went down with an apparent tricep injury which seems likely to land him on the IL. The Mets have made it nearly a full month with only one player from the Opening Day roster getting hurt, Jose Siri. Bound to see others fall, the next step is deciding who will replace Minter on the roster.

It’s a lot more complicated than simply picking the best lefty available. Because the Mets will need a sixth starter in the coming days, there should be some strategy behind the decision. Call up someone to immediately help out in relief who can then be sent down and replaced by a starting pitcher. We saw David Stearns operate this way when Siri was hurt and they delayed putting him on the IL so they could demote Max Kranick for a day and recall him the next.

With this in mind, there are two players the Mets should consider immediately calling up to the big league roster and another they should wait until after they get their sixth starter.

Call-up Kevin Herget for a few days

Already present on the 40-man roster, Kevin Herget has pitched well enough to deserve a chance in the big leagues. He has a 3.72 ERA in 9.2 innings with 8.4 strikeouts per 9 and 1.9 walks per 9. Home runs have been a problem with 3 allowed already.

Herget has minor league options, making him a simple choice for Stearns.

Call-up Tyler Zuber for a few days

Tyler Zuber doesn’t have the best ERA among the choices at 6.23. He does seem a little safer than some others. His walk rate is at 3.1 per 9 with only a single home run allowed through 8.2 innings.

Zuber is one of those lingering players from last year’s team we should be eager to see turn into something special. One minor league option left and already on the 40-man roster, his 1.38 WHIP is actually one of the better ones on the Syracuse roster.

Wait a few days to call up Anthony Gose

Anthony Gose should probably be the guy who takes Minter’s spot with a little more permanence depending on the prognosis. If Minter is going to miss weeks and not the minimum, Gose is the natural replacement. A lefty reliever with experience in the big leagues, he has outperformed Genesis Cabrera this season. Gose has a 3.00 ERA versus Cabrera whose is at 7.88.

Gose doesn’t have minor league options and is not on the 40-man roster so adding him would come with the added risk of it being temporary. Lefties are batting only .118/.211/.353 against him this season. Herget or Zuber for a few days followed by a starter summoned from the minors and then a promotion for Gose should be the way the Mets handle things if a second lefty is what they desire.

A hat tip goes out to Dedniel Nunez as well. While not his sharpest yet in the minor leagues, he’d be a Gose alternative if Minter is set to only miss a short period of time.

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