The NY Mets roster situation we hope gets complicated

Every Flex Tape commercial starts with a disaster of some kind. A pipe splits open, water sprays across the room, and the host practically grins before declaring, that’s a lot of damage. Then comes the slap. Problem sealed. The New York Mets have their own version of that scene right now with A.J. Minter sidelined, a temporary hole in the bullpen, and Bryan Hudson positioned as the strip pressed firmly over the leak.

That is the simple version. The more interesting question is what happens if the tape not only holds but also becomes part of the structure. If Hudson does more than cover innings and actually forces his way into meaningful spots, the Mets are going to be staring at the kind of roster complication contenders quietly hope for.

Fans can only hope Bryan Hudson dominates and forces a Mets roster dilemma

Hudson did not arrive with a parade. The Mets acquired the lefty from the White Sox on February 10 for cash considerations, the baseball version of digging between the couch cushions and finding something useful. He fills the bullpen spot while A.J. Minter recovers from left lat surgery, with Minter planning his first bullpen next week and sitting about a month behind the rest of the relievers in camp.

It gives Hudson more than a quick look. He opens the season alongside Brooks Raley as one of the two left-handed relievers in the bullpen. The Mets will hand him innings right away and expect him to make an impact when leverage starts to climb. April games count the same in the standings, and someone has to handle those matchups while Minter builds back.

His 2024 season shows he can handle that job with ease. That year, Hudson posted a 1.73 ERA over 62.1 innings, allowing just 28 hits and 17 walks. His 3.60 FIP suggested it was not smoke and mirrors. The four-seam fastball, used 52 percent of the time, held hitters to a .150 average. The changeup was even nastier, limiting opponents to a .052 average and a .103 slugging percentage.

The 2025 season tells a different story. He bounced between the majors and minors and switched organizations in August, finishing with a 4.80 ERA over 15 innings split between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago White Sox. That version is the one teams move on from when the injured arm returns.

If the Mets get the 2024 spark instead, the conversation changes quickly. The patch stops looking temporary and starts looking necessary. That is the scenario the organization would welcome. Let Hudson force the issue. Let someone else in the bullpen feel the heat. A roster dilemma built on performance is the kind of problem this front office would gladly sort out.

That is the dilemma fans can only hope for. If he dominates early and Minter returns healthy, this bullpen does not have a problem; it has depth. The usual assumption is that the temporary replacement is the one clearing out his locker. The better outcome is realizing the tape is still useful after the leak is fixed, adding another layer of strength.