3 free agents the NY Mets can find valuable in MLB.com's bottom tier

The New York Mets are heading into the upcoming season with the dual goals of competing immediately and maintaining financial flexibility long-term. While the club possesses the resources to engage the market's elite players, smart roster building dictates finding value in unexpected places. Specifically, the Mets need cost-controlled depth—pitching depth, in particular—that can outperform its contract, especially after a disappointing 2025 campaign that saw pitching struggles define the season.

This necessity leads the Mets’ focus to the lower echelons of the free agent market. Players categorized in Tier 5, in recent MLB free agent class rankings, often offer the chance to acquire frontline upside for a fraction of the cost, usually on short, incentive-laden contracts. These acquisitions are essentially lottery tickets where a single successful season can pay massive dividends, turning a minimal investment into a high-leverage contributor. For a Mets team looking to shore up both the back end of the rotation and the middle of the bullpen, scouting players in this tier who still possess elite "stuff" is paramount.

Finding high upside in the bargain bin: three tier 5 targets for the Mets

Dustin May

Dustin May, a 6-foot-6 right-hander, represents the classic high-risk signing. Despite flashing the stuff of an ace earlier in his career (a career 3.86 ERA and a 21.9% career strikeout rate over 324.0 innings), chronic elbow issues have relegated him to the bottom tier. May finally reached a career-high workload in 2025, throwing 132.1 innings, but his performance suffered, posting a 4.96 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Advanced metrics suggest that while his peripherals dipped—recording a 21.1% K% and a concerning 9.6% walk rate—his underlying 4.88 FIP suggests he may have been slightly unlucky.

The Mets could view May, who recently turned 28, as a long-term starter project. If the team’s medical staff can finally stabilize his health, the promise of his high-velocity, high-spin repertoire remains tantalizing. A one-year, low-cost commitment with a club option could give May a chance to re-establish his value in a new environment, potentially giving the Mets a mid-rotation arm without spending top-tier starter money.

Seranthony Dominguez

Bullpen volatility is a constant in baseball, making Seranthony Domínguez a fascinating Tier 5 target for the Mets’ relief corps. The hard-throwing righty pitched 62.2 innings across 67 games in 2025, registering a solid 3.16 ERA and an encouraging 1.28 WHIP. He continued to rely on elite strikeout ability, punching out 79 batters, which translates to an exceptional K/9 rate of over 11.3 for the season.

However, Domínguez’s history is marred by injury-related shutdowns and command inconsistencies, explaining his Tier 5 status. His career ERA stands at a strong 3.50, backed by a phenomenal 10.6 career K/9. A particularly compelling development in 2025 was his increased pitch usage, including the adoption of a sweeper and splitter, which could hint at mechanical and repertoire adjustments aimed at improving longevity and neutralizing left-handed hitters. If Domínguez can maintain his 2025 usage and strikeout efficiency, he immediately upgrades the Mets’ setup innings for a fraction of the price of a proven late-inning arm.

Kirby Yates

Kirby Yates represents the ultimate bargain bin risk due to age (38) and the sharp drop-off in his 2025 production. After a spectacular 2024 season that saw him convert 33 saves with a tiny 1.17 ERA, Yates struggled immensely with the Dodgers in 2025, logging a 5.23 ERA and a discouraging -0.5 WAR over 41.1 innings. This dramatic regression puts him squarely into the bottom tier of relievers.

Nevertheless, Yates’ career body of work speaks to his ceiling: 98 career saves and a remarkable 12.4 career K/9 rate. Even amidst his 2025 struggles, his ability to generate swings-and-misses remained high, with 52 strikeouts. For the Mets, Yates is a pure, short-term gamble. A non-guaranteed or heavily performance-based contract is the only way to acquire the services of a former elite closer. If he can recapture even a fraction of his 2024 dominance, Yates immediately becomes a trade asset or an indispensable bridge to the late innings.