NY Mets free agent signing is another attempt to solve obvious trade deadline need

It’s no secret that the New York Mets need bullpen help. While the pen has been effective so far, pitching to a 3.33 ERA, it’s unknown if they can keep it up for the rest of the season. The cracks have always started to show over the past couple of weeks. While many have assumed they would address it at the trade deadline, that hasn’t stopped them from looking at alternative methods. 

On Monday, the team announced they signed Richard Lovelady to a major league deal. Although the contract details have not been released, it is expected to be close to the veteran minimum. This is a move that could be a significant help to the Mets' pen. 

What type of pitcher is Richard Lovelady, and can he be the answer for the bullpen question marks

A quick glance at Lovelady numbers does not inspire much confidence. Over his six years in the bigs, he’s pitched to a 5.36 ERA over 101 innings with 93 strikeouts to 38 walks, a 1.347 WHIP, and an ERA+ of 84. He’s also had a hard time staying in one place. Since 2022, he’s been in six different MLB organizations, and he's had a hard time staying in the majors. 

However, how he’s pitched over the last two seasons tells a different story. During 2024, he pitched to a 4.46 ERA over 34 and 1/3 innings with 26 strikeouts to 11 walks, a 1.311 WHIP, and an ERA+ of 91 for the Cubs and Rays. He’s also been lights out for the Twins Triple-A affiliate in 2025, having a 1.91 ERA over 20 and 2/3 innings with 22 strikeouts to seven walks and a 1.06 WHIP. These numbers inspire a lot more confidence that he can be a reliable reliever in the majors.  

Lovelady primarily throws three pitches: a sinker, a slider, and a four-seam fastball. He'll occasionally throw a sweeper; however, he uses that pitch far less than his other three. In 2024, his slider was his most effective pitch. Averaging out at 86.2 mph, it held batters to a .226 batting average and a .321 slugging percentage. It was also effective in putting away pitches, getting out batters 20% of the time, and having a whiff rate of 28%.

When he arrives in Queens, he should become the prominent left-handed reliever, a position the Mets have been trying to fill since AJ Minter was lost to a season-ending lat strain. Jose Castillo is currently in that role and has done a decent job. However, over the past five outings, he's allowed ten base runners, raising concerns that hitters might have figured out what has been working for him. It's also good to have more than one lefty reliever you can count on.

With how the Mets have been able to develop pitchers over the past few seasons, it could turn Lovelady into a reliable reliever. With him putting up decent results these last season and a half, it could be the beginning of the Mets' next success story.