Grading every major league NY Mets player addition this offseason

LHP A.J. Minter

A.J. Minter has spent his entire MLB career with the division-rival Atlanta Braves. The lefty reliever put up a 2.62 ERA, 4.45 FIP, and 1.02 WHIP in 34.1 innings of work. He had a 26.1% K% with an 8.2% walk rate, but home runs bit Minter more than once. His 1.57 HR/9 rate is a huge outlier, however. He's never once put up an HR/9 over 1.00 and still had an above-average 87.3 MPH exit velo and 6.9% barrel percentage. Minter signed a two-year contract worth $22 million with the Mets. While he missed the first half of spring training due to recovering from hip surgery he had late last season, he's back on the mound and could be the Mets' go-to lefty set-up man.

Final grade: A

RHP Ryne Stanek

Veteran right-handed reliever Ryne Stanek split his 2024 season with the Seattle Mariners and the Mets. He didn't pitch particularly well overall, with only a 4.88 ERA, 4.14 FIP, and 1.32 WHIP. Stanek got a handful of K's with a 27.8% K% but had a sub-par 10.4% walk rate and a 1.30 HR/9 ratio in 55.1 innings of work. Stanek still has good stuff, sitting 98 MPH and having a 110 Stuff+ mark, both of which match his career averages. Stanek agreed to a one-year contract worth $4.5 million. That's a fairly low cost for a reliever who still can throw hard.

Final grade: B-

RHP Justin Hagenman

Justin Hagenman only worked to a 4.91 ERA, 5.62 FIP, and 1.32 WHIP for the Boston Red Sox's Triple-A affiliate. He put up a 24.5% K% and 7.8% walk rate, but his HR/9 of 2.06 in 91.2 innings was the 6th highest among any Triple-A pitcher with at least 15 games started. The Mets signed Hagenman to a split deal where he'll only make $850K if he makes the Major League roster or $250K if he is sent to the minor leagues. The Mets are taking no risk with adding Hagenman to the organization.

Final grade: C

RHP Drew Smith

Drew Smith got off to a fairly solid start in 2024. The right-handed reliever in his sixth season with the Mets opened the campaign with only six earned runs, 23 strikeouts with a 31% whiff rate, and only two home runs allowed in his first 17.2 innings of the year. However, Smith would eventually have to undergo Tommy John surgery in July. Smith and the Mets agreed on a one-year contract worth $1 million but with a club option for only $2 million for 2026. Even though Smith will miss most, if not all, of 2025, it's such a low-cost deal the Mets have a better chance of being satisfied with the contract than regretting the deal.

Final grade: C+

RHP Austin Warren

Austin Warren was a waiver claim from the San Francisco Giants. Warren has pitched in parts of the last four seasons where he has a 3.14 ERA, 3.91 FIP, and 1.25 WHIP, albeit in only 48.1 innings of work. The right-hander has done well at limiting walks with a 7.4% free pass rate, along with a 0.92 HR/9. But Warren only has an 18.8% K%. Warren has an option remaining, and given that there are far worse depth relievers out there, Warren isn't a bad addition for the Mets.

Final grade: C

RHP Kevin Herget

Kevin Herget is a journeyman reliever who has suited up for three different teams over the last three seasons. He has only tossed 42.2 innings with a poor 4.64 ERA, 4.29 FIP, but an above-average 1.17 WHIP. Herget has a minuscule 5.1% walk rate, along with a roughly average of 1.05 HR/9. But his strikeout percentage sits at just 14.6%. Like Warren, Herget has an option remaining. The right-hander was also a waiver claim.

Final grade: C