NY Mets seem to have abandoned their Huascar Brazoban plan and for the best

New York Mets fans didn't really know what to expect from Huascar Brazoban entering the 2026 season, nor were they sure how Carlos Mendoza would use Brazoban. Heck, Brazoban wasn't even a lock to make the Opening Day roster, but he didn't sound any alarms in spring training, and the Mets ultimately made the right call to carry him on the MLB squad to start the year.

Brazoban hasn't allowed an earned run in seven appearances thus far in 2026, and he's only allowed six hits across 8 1/3 innings. It looks like Brazoban is benefiting from the Mets having abandoned their plan for him to be a long reliever. When Brazoban was demoted last summer, the Mets had him lengthening his outings in Triple-A Syracuse, and no one really understood the thinking behind it. Why increase the workload for a struggling arm? Less is more for a reliever like Brazoban with his electric sinker.

Well, the Mets appear to have come to their senses about Brazoban. He did pitch 2 2/3 innings in Saturday's blowout loss to the Athletics (to great success), but that was an exception that only happened because Kodai Senga got shelled early. Other than that outing, Brazoban has only made appearances in which he's pitched for 1 2/3 innings or less, and he's made three appearances of 2/3 an inning or less. This is Brazoban's wheelhouse.

The Mets have figured out how to properly use Huascar Brazoban

The Mets have some bullpen questions, but Brazoban might not be one of them if he's truly found his niche, thanks to wise decision-making from Mendoza. Tobias Myers has looked comfortable in the long reliever role thus far, so it's not like Mendoza is searching for someone to fill the shoes that the Mets were hoping (circa July 2025) that Brazoban could and would fill.

Sean Manaea is another obvious long reliever option, given his history as a starter. Three of Manaea's four appearances so far in 2026 have been three or more innings of relief work.

Brazoban's 2026 destiny is still unknown for Mets, but his role is clear

Where exactly Brazoban will fit into the Mets' late-season and postseason dynamic will be determined by a couple of factors, Luke Weaver's performance being one of them. Weaver got off to a nice start to 2026 but has looked shaky in a couple of outings since. Will the Mets ultimately trust Brazoban over Weaver down the stretch as a setup man for Devin Williams (assuming Williams sustains his current quality)?

It's way too early to know the answer to that question, considering the youth of the season and the fact that Brazoban and Weaver both had difficult seasons in 2025. At the very least, the Mets now know that they are placing Brazoban in the best position for him to succeed, something the organization may have been confused about in '25.

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