$33 million free agent bust is a future NY Mets reclamation project for David Stearns

Follow a team long enough, and you'll learn about the lead executive's tendencies. When it comes to the New York Mets, David Stearns has quite a few. Some are good, some are bad, but one that has pretty consistently worked out for him has been delving in and rehabbing injured relievers.

The examples are numerous. Brooks Raley has thrown the best innings of his career with a 2.45 ERA as a Met, despite Tommy John surgery interrupting the middle of his tenure in Queens. Drew Smith put together some solid seasons between his first Tommy John surgery in 2019, though his second procedure in 2024 was a bridge too far, even for Stearns.

The Mets have another one working his way back in, sneaky-good signing Adbert Alzolay. Two more are percolating for next year, in Reed Garrett and Tylor Megill. Could the next one be on the horizon?

Heading into the 2024 season, one reliever who caught Stearns' eye was former Tampa Bay Ray, Robert Stephenson. Ultimately, New York lost out on Stephenson to a three-year, $33 million pact with the Los Angeles Angels.

The good news about Stephenson's tenure in Los Angeles has been the fact that he's posted a 2.70 during his time there. The bad news is that his Angels career will most likely come to an end after this season, with him throwing a total of 10 innings during the three-year stretch.

Robert Stephenson looks like a Mets target in David Stearns' wheelhouse, but there are obstacles

There are injury-prone pitchers, and then there is Robert Stephenson. The right-hander hurt his elbow in spring training ahead of the 2024 season, requiring Tommy John surgery that cost him the entire year. When he came back in 2025, he managed just 12 games as a nerve issue cut his season short. He underwent surgery to deal with thoracic outlet syndrome this past offseason, and now he's done for the year after undergoing surgery to repair an elbow ligament and flexor tendon. Woof.

The 33-year-old has been through the wringer. If Stearns likes conquering reliever injuries, then signing Stephenson and having success would equate to vanquishing the final boss. With him set to hit free agency, it's hard to see the Mets executive being able to resist the challenge, especially given the pennies it would cost to sign him.

There are two potential hiccups, though. The first has to do with Stephenson's potential availability. The Angels might've known his elbow was going to be a problem, so they included a clause that tacked on a $2.5 million club option for 2027 to his deal should he miss 130 consecutive days due to an elbow injury.

Do the Angels pick up the option and try to salvage some sort of value from the player who was their biggest free-agent signing during the 2023-2024 offseason? Or are they so fed up with him that they cut him loose and wish him well, hoping to never have him darken their doorstep again? Simply put, Stephenson might not be available.

And even if he is, will Stearns still be in New York to sign him? The Mets' horrific start after last year's sluggish finish has the heat on his seat creeping towards dangerous levels. If the Stearns isn't running the Mets, would they even be interested? If Stearns is still around, does he change his ways, knowing that he's running out of second chances? It seems like such a fit based on Stearns' idiosyncrasies, but plenty of roadblocks exist.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow