NY Mets injury update on A.J. Minter should help new trade acquisition make the team

David Stearns might have handed out the answer key before anyone realized there was a test coming. Early this morning, the New York Mets made a trade to add another left-handed reliever. A few hours later, that transaction made a lot more sense once the team shared an injury update, making that bullpen addition feel much more intentional.

For a reliever trying to stick on a roster, timing matters as much as results. The newest lefty enters camp coming off a down year after showing real impact not long ago, which puts a little more weight on how he performs this spring. If Stearns really handed out the answer sheet early, this might be the moment where one newcomer realizes he already knows which question he needs to ace.

With A.J. Minter out, Mets newcomer Bryan Hudson has a clear path to the bullpen

The Mets acquired left-handed reliever Bryan Hudson from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for cash considerations, a move that did not take long to connect back to the injury news. Hudson had been designated for assignment on February 4 to make room on Chicago’s roster for Austin Hays, which gave the Mets an opening to grab a low-risk arm with upside. On paper, it reads like a depth trade. In reality, the timing gives Hudson a legitimate shot to matter right away.

In 2025, Hudson posted a 4.80 ERA over 15 innings split between the Brewers and White Sox. The year before looked much different, as he pitched to a 1.73 ERA while allowing 28 hits and 17 walks across 62.1 innings. He struck out hitters at a 26.4% clip, and opponents managed only a .195 xBA against him, a mark that placed him among the top 7% of MLB pitchers. That is the version of Hudson the front office hopes shows up in camp.

Opportunity is the real headline here. With A.J. Minter not expected back until early May and Brooks Raley sitting as the lone established lefty on the 40-man roster before this deal, the path suddenly looks wide open. Hudson will not walk into the role without competition, though. Non-roster invitees Joe Jacques, Anderson Severino, and Nate Lavender are all chasing the same opening, which means early impressions could carry real weight.

Still, if Hudson looks anything like the pitcher he was in 2024, the competition might not last long. The Mets need innings from the left side, and a strong spring would make Hudson the clear choice to handle the second bullpen spot until Minter returns. The runway is there, and all he has to do now is stick the landing.