Rangers roster cut could be the unbeatable bargain the NY Mets can’t resist

Projected to make only $2 million in arbitration this year, the Texas Rangers cut Jacob Webb ahead of the non-tender deadline. While it was Adolis Garcia and Jonah Heim grabbing the headlines, Webb came as one of the more surprising details to emerge from their mission to overhaul the roster. Days later they traded Marcus Semien to the New York Mets for Brandon Nimmo, making their own attempt to restructure what the team looks like with debatable moves.

But enough about them. What about the Mets? Their bullpen has “work in progress” signs everywhere. Southpaws A.J. Minter and Brooks Raley will handle late and high-leverage innings and maybe some earlier situations where they need to defeat a tough left-handed hitter. Beyond them, the other spots are anyone’s guess.

We figure the Mets will add one of the top closers whether it’s an Edwin Diaz reunion or something else. After that, we need to begin to think about the other spots. Huascar Brazoban is their next best option with Adbert Alzolay coming off of Tommy John surgery on a minor league contract that may not force them to put him on the Opening Day roster if not quite ready. This leaves them with room to add a pitcher like Webb who only recently joined the free agent pool.

Jacob Webb is a mid-level reliever who has some top-level qualities

Webb ranked 39th in MLB among qualified pitchers in hard-hit percentage. It’s the one thing he had going for him better than anything else and led to a 3.00 ERA. He had an exceptionally good finish to the season, pitching to a 1.59 ERA in the second half. All of his runs allowed post-All-Star Break were on 4 solo home runs.

Don’t consider Webb anything more than the guy to replace Reed Garrett on the roster. Logging 24 games for the Rangers last year in the 7th inning, more than any other, he’d be the first or second line of defense in relief.

It is important to note he won’t get the ball on the ground much. Ground balls have never been his strength. Relying on a fastball, changeup, and sweeper, he’s a nerve-wracking fly ball pitcher who has been about average when it comes to strike outs.

Pitchers like Webb haven’t exactly fit the format the David Stearns-led Mets have preferred. Valuing high strikeout potential more often than not, Webb offers something different.

The 32-year-old righty has a 3.22 ERA over the last three seasons. Over the last two years, he has a 3.00 ERA with the Rangers in 2025 after posting a 3.02 ERA in 2024 with the Baltimore Orioles. Signed for a one-year deal worth $1.25 million last offseason after a good year with Baltimore, he’s someone who shouldn’t cost much more than $3 million or so. That’s the kind of financial flexibility that can help the Mets more easily squeeze in Diaz and a top setup man. And if it goes awry, it’s not so incredibly high that they’ll continue to force him on the mound regularly.