NY Mets depth chart tells us exactly where they need the most help

The buzz around the New York Mets has mostly had to do with which starting pitcher they’ll add to the mix via trade or free agency. But that’s not what the depth chart tells us they need to focus on most. As crucial as it is to improve the starting staff, the lightest part of their depth chart is in the bullpen.

As Fangraphs’ Roster Resource shows us, the Mets currently, with Edwin Diaz present at the moment, have a terrifyingly weak bullpen. It doesn’t include A.J. Minter who is sure to accept his player option or Brooks Raley who’ll be invited back for another year. Even after adding those two, it’s scary how much work needs to be done.

The Mets look like they may need to add at least three more relievers to their roster

Huascar Brazoban is welcome back to be one of those movable relievers to go back and forth from Syracuse. Austin Warren and Brandon Waddell, with no minor league options left, are tougher to justify keeping. As good/useful/acceptable as they were, it feels like they’ll be players to let linger around until final roster cuts. Let someone beat them before you cut them entirely.

Dylan Ross is the young wild card in the equation with Alex Carrillo being an easy player to demote or cut. Justin Hagenman, with his ability to go multiple innings, should get stashed in the minor leagues. Richard Lovelady? His split contract should have him passing through waivers and accepting a minor league assignment to become a well-paid Triple-A player but not someone we'll toss more than a small number of emergency innings in the big leagues.

Where does this leave the Mets? In need of seven arms, we can quickly start to fill out most of the spots with some internal options.

1) Edwin Diaz
2) A.J. Minter
3) Brooks Raley
4) Huascar Brazoban
5) Adbert Alzolay
6) Drew Smith

The latter two were signed last year while injured, but can be useful parts next season. This leaves us with two spots. Suddenly, a chance on Ross or retention of Waddell and/or Warren feels unrealistic if the Mets want the bullpen to be better. The club could have some minor leaguers on the way to being big league ready for a relief role. To start the year, the Mets should focus on adding a high-leverage righty at minimum.

Assembling a bullpen isn’t easy, which is a part of the reason why the Mets failed in 2025 and why Stearns got a head start with the additions of Alzolay and Smith. Their three best relievers at the moment aren’t quite guarantees to come back, Diaz being the most questionable.

Given the results of the last two years, those final bullpen spots can’t go to someone of the Yohan Ramirez, Jorge Lopez, or even Ryne Stanek variety. Re-signing Tyler Rogers is one option to weigh.

The Mets are sure to take some risks (and fail) while finding an unpredictable gem somewhere else. As they have regularly under Stearns, expect waiver claims and maybe even a few cheap signings to add to the competition this spring.