Where have I seen that name before? When other teams make offseason transactions, it’s a question we might ask ourselves. The Atlanta Braves finished with one of the worst records in 2025, putting them amongst the first clubs to make waiver claims. On Thursday, they picked up a former New York Mets prospect who as recently as 2022, ranked as their 24th best minor leaguer ahead of Christian Scott.
Josh Walker ended up in 24 games for the Mets in 2023 and 2024, pitching to a 6.45 ERA. The Mets found a taker for him around the trade deadline, sending the lefty to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He never appeared in a big league game for them.
Walker’s next opportunity could come as a member of the Braves. The out of options southpaw could be a placeholder the same way the Mets added Jose Castillo to their roster. Another lefty claimed away from the Baltimore Orioles–Castillo actually pitched for them, Walker didn’t–the waiver claim by Atlanta briefly reunites Walker with ex-Mets pitching coach Jeremy Hefner.
Josh Walker isn’t even the most significant former Mets player to join the Braves roster
Other ex-Mets blood is present on the 40-man roster for Atlanta currently. They managed to sign Carlos Carrasco to a minor league deal. Turning 39 in March, his career has been hanging by a thread. He had a 9.88 ERA in 3 starts with Atlanta last year. Since his final year with the Mets in 2023, he has a -3.4 WAR and a 6.36 ERA.
This feels like Carrasco’s last rodeo. The Cleveland Guardians brought him back in 2024 only to see a shell of his former self take the mound. He began 2025 with the New York Yankees and put up a 5.91 ERA in 32 innings as a starter and reliever.
Because his deal is a minor league one, he’s far more likely to remain with the Braves through spring training and into the regular season. They can stash him in Triple-A for the time being. A promotion would be out of desperation. It’s hard to imagine Carrasco has any chance of doing much more than throwing batting practice.
With the Braves now employing two ex-Mets coaches, notably Hefner who spent longer in Flushing, we can connect the possibility of others joining the organization in some way. Chris Bassitt is one of those players who had praise for what Hefner taught him in his one season with the Mets.
