NY Mets rumors: The obstacles to jump over to make Adrian Morejon more realistic

MLB insider Pat Ragazzo put together a prediction of what he believes the New York Mets bullpen will look like in 2027. His approach has the Mets staying with many internal options and one flashy addition.

Adrian Morejon of the San Diego Padres, one of the game’s best setup men, lands with the Mets in his prediction. A clear fit for the Mets as a high-leverage lefty, Ragazzo wrote further on Morejon specifically for Friars on Base to discuss his free agency. According to executives he spoke to, there’s an expectation Morejon could command a contract similar to Robert Suarez as well as a job as a closer.

Pitching alongside Mason Miller has limited Morejon’s opportunities to save games and on the Mets, it would stir up a competition. The Mets already have a budding battle between Devin Williams and Kodai Senga for the ninth inning role. Similar AAVs and neither actually signed to close games for them if you believe the Mets intended to sign Edwin Diaz after Williams, there is definitely a possible way for Morejon to land a closer’s job with New York.

But would the Mets add another significant salary like his to the roster? David Stearns has found a way to cleverly build a bullpen without always spending a lot of money. Over the last few weeks, multiple affordable options have emerged as candidates for next year’s bullpen. Locked in with Williams, Senga, and then Morejon combining to make around $45 million or so, it’s a lot of egg cash in one basket.

Adrian Morejon might fit the Mets best if they manage to trade one of their other high-priced relievers

The idea of more than one relief pitcher on your roster making over $10 million feels foreign. It’s not so uncommon any longer. The top high-leverage arms get around that much or more. Closers are more in the $15+ million range with some a little further behind.

With Morejon, who doesn’t turn 28 until February, teams can more safely invest in a player whose best has yet to come. He has a 2.58 ERA over the last three seasons with a rising 11 K/9 rate in 2026. He has managed to vulture a lot of victories over the last two seasons, winning 13 games out of the San Diego bullpen in 2025 and another 9 already this season. That is both random but also a sign of how well he performs in tight games.

There’s a lot of appeal there. If the Mets do indeed round out the rest of their bullpen with guys like Daniel Duarte, Nate Lavender, and Austin Warren as Ragazzo predicted, spending big on one of the top guys makes sense.

The problem might be the upside of Morejon. The Mets don’t have the clearest path to give Morejon an opportunity to close games. Ragazzo mentions several other teams in the Friars on Base story who could target him. A contract where he could choose to opt out after two years or so while working as a closer to eventually get Diaz/Josh Hader money seems more favorable for the player.

Maybe the Mets just need to demote Devin Williams and Kodai Senga if they sign Adrian Morejon

It seems like Senga becoming a top closer or setup man is a happy accident. Does he have any trade value as such? It’s certainly higher than what he had heading into the 2026 season. Still, teams would probably be skeptical.

Bailing on Williams after one season seems less likely. His value isn’t great and whether he’s the closer or setup man, he should be someone we prepare to see in a Mets uniform next year.

Building a successful bullpen has the rockiest path. There are obvious moves and then there are those nobody saw coming.

The Mets will need a big arm of some kind added to the mix for 2027. Morejon seems perfect. Other situations, however, seem more right for him. And if there are any budgetary restraints due to the CBA or imposed by Steve Cohen, spending significantly on another relief pitcher might make him a tad out of reach.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow