4) Brooks Raley
The 2024 season ended prematurely for Brooks Raley due to Tommy John Surgery. He’ll miss part of this coming year. What could work out really well for the Mets is to sign him and stash him on the IL. He was too good for them out of the bullpen to completely pass over in free agency.
Because we know how clever David Stearns can be, one scenario that might be on his mind is to wait for the season to begin before signing Raley. In the offseason, players cannot technically be on the 60-day IL thus leaving more room on the 40-man roster. Stearns has already added a few players this winter he’ll dispose of on waivers before the season even begins. Why utilize a spot on a guy you’d like to keep but can’t do much else with?
There is always a risk with a player coming off of a major surgery like Tommy John. Knowing he’s already going to miss a part of the year should lower Raley’s asking price. Tack on a team or mutual option for 2026 and this can be a somewhat under-the-radar addition to help the Mets out later in the coming year. A very modest offer should be all it takes.