Late NY Mets spring training roster cut has been deceptively good since leaving

Left-handed reliever Bryan Hudson was acquired by the New York Mets from the White Sox in exchange for cash considerations and wasn't expected to be much more than a depth piece. He had been inconsistent in 2025, struggling to recapture the success of his 2024 and posting a 4.80 ERA across just 15 major league innings.

After pitching to a 16.20 ERA across 3.1 spring training innings, he was designated for assignment by the Mets and claimed off waivers by the White Sox. The full-circle moment may have been what he needed since his second stint with Chicago has been far better than the first but his resurgence may not last long.

Bryan Hudson has pitched to a strong ERA but his peripherals prove why the Mets had reservations

In 10.2 innings this year, he has pitched to a 1.69 ERA and a 2.77 FIP. Both are elite figures but a closer look under the hood indicates there may be trouble brewing. He hasn't given up any home runs yet but it seems like just a matter of time before an opposing hitter takes him deep for the first time since his average exit velocity is 91.0 mph. Furthermore, he has a chase rate of just 22.7% and a walk rate of 14.3%, forcing him to throw more strikes.

Typically, throwing more strikes is seen as a good thing but with Hudson's unimpressive fastball that sits in the low-90s and has average shape, it's only a matter of time before hitters start to do some real damage against him. He hasn't utilized his heater as much this season as he has in the past but if he continues to get behind in counts, he'll be forced into throwing it more often.

Given the Mets' own bullpen problems, seeing a foregone reliever post an ERA under 2.00 with a different team seems like a wasted opportunity. However, what's more important is how these arms will fare over the course of the full season, not just the first month. The current state of the team makes it seem like the decline will never end but despite being 9-16, the Mets still have almost 140 games left to play.

The volatile nature of baseball means that hot and cold stretches will happen for nearly every player but with enough innings and plate appearances, abilities will normalize. Has Bryan Hudson been more effective for his team than almost all of the Mets' relievers have been for theirs so far? Sure but based on the data, he could be headed for quite the steep drop over the next few months.

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