NY Mets release 3 minor leaguers with MLB experience

Like all MLB teams, the New York Mets have a handful of players in their system who are serving as depth. They also just parted ways with three minor league relievers (according to Mike Mayer of Metsmerized) with some notable Major League experience, some of which having had one, if not multiple, successful seasons. However, with the Mets adding three huge pieces to their bullpen at the deadline, in Tyler Rogers, Gregory Soto, and Ryan Helsley, it looks like they no longer need that added depth.

The most notable reliever here is arguably Julian Merryweather. Merryweather was once traded from the Cleveland Indians to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Josh Donaldson at the 2018 August waiver deadline. He would only go on to pitch 52.2 innings from 2020 through 2022 with the Jays before being put on waivers in January of 2023. That was when the Chicago Cubs picked him up, and he would go on to have what has been his best year by far.

Merryweather tossed 72 innings, all out of the bullpen. He put up a 3.38 ERA, 3.52 FIP, and 1.31 WHIP. While Merryweather had an 11.9% walk rate, he struck out nearly a third of opponents with a 32.3% strikeout percentage. Plus, he had a respectable 1.00 HR/9. However, this success was brief. He only pitched 33.2 innings, pitching to an ERA over 6.00, with the Cubs over the last two seasons before getting released at the end of May. The Mets then picked up Merryweather in the first week of June, but he has allowed six earned runs and nine walks in a dozen innings pitched at Triple-A Syracuse.

Colin Poche has the most Major League success of anyone the Mets released. From 2019 through 2024, Poche pitched 208.1 innings for the Tampa Bay Rays, while missing time in 2020 and 2021 due to Tommy John surgery. He proved to be an effective lefty reliever, putting up a 3.63 ERA, 4.14 FIP, and 1.10 WHIP. Poche struck out 27% of batters, with a 9.2% walk rate, albeit with a 1.32 HR/9. 

Mets release 3 minor league relievers with major league experience.

The Washington Nationals then picked up the left-hander on a minor league contract after he hit free agency. He would make the club out of Spring Training, but would only pitch 8.2 innings, allowing 11 earned runs and a dozen walks. He was designated for assignment on May 1st and has been picked up on minor league contracts by the Mets twice.

Junior Fernandez has the least Major League success of any of the pitchers the Mets released. Fernandez has 54 innings pitched in the Major Leagues from 2019 through 2022. The results haven’t been pretty, with just a 5.17 ERA, 5.57 FIP, and 1.72 WHIP. He flashed some powerful stuff, averaging 99 MPH in 2022 with the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates, but has also walked 13.9% of opponents. 

Fernandez then saw time at Triple-A for both the Toronto Blue Jays and Washington Nationals before a short stint in Japan. He returned to the US with the Kansas City Royals, pitching 38.1 innings with a 4.93 ERA and 1.54 WHIP before getting released in early July. The Mets then picked up Fernandez on July 8th, and he only threw 4.2 frames before his recent departure.

With the new additions to the Mets’ bullpen, extra relief depth doesn’t look like an absolute need for the team as of right now. Even in the event of an injury, the Mets can always recall Huascar Brazoban, or even promote a top prospect to make their Major League debut, like Nolan McLean or Brandon Sproat.