3 non-tender bullpen arms the NY Mets should snatch up for pennies on the dollar

The MLB offseason is often described as a slow burn, but the brief window following the non-tender deadline provides a swift, high-stakes opportunity for teams to seize value. As the league’s 40-man rosters contract and clubs shed players facing high arbitration salaries or long injury recoveries, the New York Mets, aiming to retool their bullpen without blowing up the budget, should view this period as a definitive Black Friday for baseball talent. David Stearns has prioritized smart spending and finding low-cost, high-upside players, and the recent flurry of non-tenders has opened the door to several premium reclamation projects.

The Mets' 2026 bullpen depth requires significant strengthening, especially in high-leverage situations. By targeting players with strong underlying metrics or premium stuff hampered by bad luck or injury, the team can leverage small contracts into massive returns. Instead of shelling out top dollar for proven closers, the focus should shift to acquiring talent on the cheap, hoping for a mid-season surge. Here are three recently non-tendered pitchers who represent exceptional value for the Mets, ranging from immediate Major League options to a high-upside minor league stash.

The Black Friday bullpen bonanza

Mark Leiter Jr.: the Yankees' underpriced reject

Mark Leiter Jr., non-tendered by the crosstown Yankees, is arguably the most immediate Major League bargain available. Leiter's 4.84 ERA in 59 appearances for the Yankees in 2025 looked "bloated" on the stat sheet, leading the organization to cut bait rather than pay his projected $3 million arbitration salary. This move is a gift for the Mets, as Leiter’s surface numbers grossly betrayed his true effectiveness.

The underlying Statcast data paints the picture of a pitcher who was victimized by poor defense and bad luck. Despite the high ERA, Leiter ranked in the 92nd percentile in average exit velocity allowed, meaning when batters did make contact, it wasn't hard. Furthermore, his FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) of 3.54 was more than a full run lower than his ERA, confirming he deserved better results. With a strong strikeout rate of nearly 25%, Leiter has the stuff of a solid middle reliever, and signing him to a modest MLB deal could instantly upgrade the Mets’ setup corps at a fraction of the cost of a typical free agent.

Evan Phillips: the $6 million TJS bargain

Acquiring Evan Phillips requires patience, but the long-term payoff could be immense. Phillips, a premier setup man and former closer for the Dodgers, was non-tendered due to the combination of his hefty $6.1 million arbitration projection and his Tommy John surgery (TJS), which he underwent in June 2025. This makes him highly unlikely to pitch in the first half of the 2026 season, potentially aiming for a September return.

For a team positioned for the future, the calculus is simple: sign a reliever who, when healthy, was statistically elite. Prior to his injury, Phillips' Statcast page was incredible, including a sensational stretch where he posted a 2.21 ERA from 2022-2024. He ranked in the 98th percentile for expected ERA (xERA) and expected batting average (xBA), driven by high whiff rates and low barrels. By offering him a low-base, two-year contract with deferred money or incentives, the Mets could secure a dominant high-leverage arm for the 2027 season while benefiting from a potential late-2026 boost, all while stashing him on the 60-day IL for the entire year, preserving a 40-man roster spot.

Colin Holderman: the minor league lottery ticket

Former Met Colin Holderman, another recent non-tender, presents a classic minor league reclamation project, perfect for a non-roster invitation to Spring Training. Holderman was plagued by inconsistent performance in 2025 that saw his ERA balloon, but his deep arsenal, highlighted by a devastating sweeper and a high-velocity sinker, remains tantalizing.

Scouting reports and xStats (expected metrics) suggest that Holderman’s sweeper and sinker continue to perform better than what his actual results have shown, implying a significant amount of bad luck in play. By refining his command and capitalizing on the exceptional movement of these pitches, Holderman could be a massive find. The Mets can offer him a minor league deal, giving him time in Triple-A Syracuse to stabilize his mechanics and rebuild confidence, potentially vaulting him back into the Major League mix as a low-cost, high-velocity option down the line. His pedigree and untapped velocity make him an ideal "pennies on the dollar" pickup.

By leveraging the non-tender chaos, the Mets can secure three distinct pitching assets—an immediate big league contributor in Leiter, a future dominant reliever in Phillips, and a high-upside minor league stash in Holderman—all while adhering to a budget-conscious strategy built on identifying overlooked Statcast gems.