NY Mets Monday Morning GM: 3 offseason decisions David Stearns can do a 180 turn on

3) Relying on experienced journeymen relievers rather than young homegrown arms

We cannot fault Stearns with this because the best Mets pitchers currently in the minor leagues are starters. You don’t take away a full year of any of them starting games in the minors just to hope they are useful bullpen arms for you in a full rookie season.

The team also hasn’t shown a great ability to have relief pitchers on the fringes of making it to the majors. They were willing to do something like give Justin Hagenman, a career minor leaguer, a major league contract in the offseason. Alex Carrillo, a free agent signing from the Independent League, had his chance with some terrifying results.

It’s not completely unprecedented for rookies to get handed the ball this year. We’ve also seen Blade Tidwell used a few times. Based on the results, there isn’t anyone else currently in Syracuse with a strong enough case to be called up.

The Hail Mary to throw here is to use Nolan McLean and/or Brandon Sproat as a reliever for the remainder of 2025. Dylan Ross is a more outside consideration. Dom Hamel, who has already essentially become a reliever although he has worked as an opener at times recently, is someone the team could view more favorably than the numbers say.

Under multiple executives, the Mets have been slow to call up prospects. Mid-year, with the playoffs on the line, is the time to go bold and pull off a 180 degree change from this thought process.