After a winter of brutal roster losses, the New York Mets have made a pair of moves that might turn the narrative of their offseason around.
Shortly after the team endured the brutal disappointment of missing the playoffs entirely, the front office cut ties with long-tenured stars Brandon Nimmo, Pete Alonso, Edwin Diaz and Jeff McNeil. In the wake of those losses, it was hard for many Mets fans to feel like the team was going in the right direction.
But now president of baseball operations David Stearns has made some noteworthy additions, signing star infielder Bo Bichette and trading for outfield slugger Luis Robert Jr. and frontline starter Freddy Peralta.
“And just like that, the Mets are beginning to look complete, if perhaps in unorthodox manner,” Laura Albanese wrote for Newsday. “Give credit where it’s due: president of baseball operations David Stearns has shown a sort of plasticity that speaks to his ability to navigate unfavorable situations.”
Though he caused some hand-wringing in Queens, Stearns seems to have addressed most fans’ concerns with a trio of moves. And now all that might be left is to tweak around the periphary of the roster.
New York Mets Sign Former Philadelphia Phillies Pitcher Luis Garcia
To that end, the team has brought in a veteran reliever who could add some key depth to the bullpen.
“The Mets are in agreement with reliever Luis Garcia, pending physical,” according to the New York Post’s Joel Sherman.
Mets fans might remember Garcia as a member of the division rival Philadelphia Phillies, where he started his big-league career and spent six seasons, from 2013 to 2018. In that time, Garcia maintained a 4.12 ERA across more than 244 innings, including plenty against the Mets. But in his final season with the Phillies, he struggled with a 6.07 ERA and the Phillies traded him to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for Jose Alvarez.
After Philadelphia Phillies Cut Ties, Luis Garcia Has Been A Journeyman
Garcia then bounced around the majors, including stints with the Texas Rangers, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals. Last season, he found himself on three different teams, including another brief stay back with the Angels, posting a 3.42 ERA in 58 total games.
Now the Mets seem to be hoping Garcia can eat up some bullpen innings in a bounceback return to the playoffs.