29 MLB teams should be kicking themselves for not stealing NY Mets player last summer

Whenever the New York Mets add a player of any caliber to their roster on a minor league deal, we often credit them for the lack of harm it does to them. Even major league deals can have their benefits as long as the player has minor league options available.

Before the 2024 season, the Mets put in a waiver claim on Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Max Kranick. Awarded a fourth option year due to missed time because of injury, the Mets never had the need to pull the trigger on giving Kranick any actual big league innings in 2024. In fact, you might even recall the Mets DFA’ing him on May 6 only to bring back Yohan Ramirez on waivers. This seemed to end any chance he had at pitching for the team he grew up rooting for.

Kranick successfully passed through waivers and would end up joining the Mets in the NLWC round where he wouldn’t actually pitch. He was there to eat innings in a potential blowout. Fast-forward to this spring and those 29 other teams who didn’t blink at adding Kranick might be kicking themselves today.

Max Kranick is suddenly becoming a serious contender to have significant innings for the Mets in 2025

A strong start to the spring that includes 4 shutout innings of 3-hit ball and no walks allowed. Kranick has struck out 3 along the way while showcasing an arsenal of pitches so deep Sum 41 would nasily sing about its depths if thy were still around.

Injuries to Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas have opened up a pathway for Kranick to make the team as the longman in the bullpen. Assuming Paul Blackburn and Griffin Canning each have rotation spots, it makes sense for the team to have Kranick around at the start of the season for some significant innings whether it’s mop-up duty or more.

As a relief pitcher in the minors last year, Kranick pitched to a 3.46 ERA. He struck out 48 batters in 52 innings while issuing 15 walks. A transition from starter to reliever seems to have revitalized his career. A natural progression for every starter who fails to cut the mustard in the big leagues, a strong start to the spring has made Kranick a sudden fan favorite to do some spectacular things in the coming season.

Because the Mets will move forward with a six-man rotation at some point this year, Kranick is especially valuable because of his ability to toss multiple frames at a time. Even if he performs as more of an opener than an actual starter expected to go 5+ innings, being able to get through those first few outs can add to his value. 

The Mets clearly saw something special in Kranick to pick him up on waivers last winter in the first place. Apparently, no one else did and there are 29 teams out there scolding their scouting departments for what may end up as a big miss.