3 underrated relievers who can give the NY Mets real innings in 2026

Last season showed just how thin the New York Mets were when it came to dependable innings, and that weakness has followed them straight into the offseason. Too many games turned into early scrambles, too many innings leaned on the wrong arms, and too many stretches asked for help the roster simply didn’t have. Fixing that doesn’t always require a splashy move. Sometimes it just requires finding pitchers who can stay on the mound long enough to matter.

That is where the bargain market becomes interesting. There are relievers available who not only kept runs off the board in 2025 but also handled the kind of multi-inning work the Mets lacked. This isn’t about replacing a frontline starter or reinventing the staff. It’s about adding one or two arms that can absorb real volume at a smart price. With that in mind, there are three affordable options that make a convincing case.

3 underrated relievers who can gobble up innings for the Mets in 2026

1) Jakob Junis

Jakob Junis reinvented himself in Cleveland last season, shifting fully into a bullpen role and delivering the kind of steady volume the Mets should be hunting. He posted a 2.97 ERA with 64 hits, 55 strikeouts, and a 141 ERA+ across 66.2 innings, showing he can hold up when handed real responsibility. Of his 57 appearances, 18 lasted more than one inning, a workload that puts him right in the sweet spot for a team looking to stretch its bullpen without draining it.

The underlying numbers make the case even stronger. Junis leaned heavily on his slider and changeup in 2025, throwing them for 64 percent of his pitches and holding hitters to a .212 average. His success against lefties, who hit just .237 with a .669 OPS, shows there’s more nuance to his profile than a simple soft-contact righty. With the right usage pattern, Carlos Mendoza could maximize his efficiency and turn him into a steady innings absorber at a market value under $4 million per year.

2) Jacob Webb

Jacob Webb hit the non-tender market after Texas moved on ahead of the November 21 deadline, and he instantly became one of the more interesting depth arms available. He finished the season with a 3.00 ERA, 49 hits, 58 strikeouts, and a 122 ERA+ across 66 innings, showing the kind of steady competence the Mets could use. His workload fits the model, too. Of his 55 outings, 20 stretched beyond one inning, giving him a track record that matches the multi-inning lane the Mets may want to build.

The contact profile pushes him even higher on the list. Webb ranked in the top 15 percent of MLB in barrel rate, hard-hit rate, average exit velocity, and xERA, and all three of his pitches, fastball, sweeper, and changeup, held opponents under a .220 average. The one issue was the ten home runs allowed, but that is often fixable with better sequencing and usage. Before his non-tender, he was projected for just two million dollars in arbitration, the kind of price that makes him a classic bargain fit for this approach.

3) Shawn Armstrong

Shawn Armstrong enters the market as the most seasoned option of the group, and his results in 2025 show he still brings real value. The eleven-year veteran finished with a 2.31 ERA, allowing just 40 hits while striking out 74 in 74 innings and posting a strong 159 ERA+. He also carried a genuine multi-inning workload. Of his 71 appearances this season, 22 went longer than an inning, giving him a usage pattern that lines up with what the Mets may now be targeting: affordable pitchers who can reliably absorb volume.

The underlying metrics paint an even clearer picture. Armstrong ranked in the top 10% of MLB in hard-hit rate, xERA, and xBA, and his average exit velocity sat in the top 20%, a sign that hitters rarely squared him up. His cutter, sinker, four-seamer, and sweeper all held opponents under a .188 average, and none allowed a slugging mark above .350. With a current market value around $4 million, he fits neatly into the category of bargain arms who can help the Mets tackle innings without entering the expensive starter market.