The trade deadline isn’t for another few weeks, but the Mets received a huge addition to their bullpen Friday when left-hander Brooks Raley came off the injured list. Finally, the Mets have an established reliever in the bullpen who can match up against left-handed hitters in just about any situation, and has experience pitching in high-leverage innings.
Raley, a stalwart for the Mets’ bullpen in 2023, underwent Tommy John surgery early last season after throwing only seven innings. But his rehab went smoothly and the Mets signed him to a one-year contract earlier this season with the hope of having him healthy for a playoff push.
“It was a journey,” Raley said Friday afternoon at Citi Field before the Mets opened a series against the Cincinnati Reds. “The first part of the six months, not throwing is tough. Never been through anything like that before. In 16 years, I didn’t like taking more than 1-2 months off. But it was a chance to kind of reset the body, get the mobility back [and] work on yourself.”
A 37-year-old veteran who pitched seven seasons in the Major Leagues and six in Korea, Raley’s velocity is up from his last few seasons and he’s feeling “normal,” which is exactly how he wanted to feel after a long rehab process.
Raley stayed busy with his four kids while rehabbing mostly at home in Texas last summer. Over the winter, he expected to sign with a team quickly as a free agent, though he always held out hope for a reunion with the Mets. There were some offers, but none that were enticing, and Raley wanted continuity in his rehab plan, especially knowing he wouldn’t be able to return until midseason.
“The value wasn’t there for what we were getting offered so I just passed,” Raley said. “I said, ‘I’ve bet on myself this far, I’ll keep doing that.’”
Able to throw again, he held a workout for scouts, saying he felt like he was in college again when he had 12 of them with their radar guns out watching him warm up.
“Got a little adrenaline rolling and got to throw,” he said. “Everything worked out after that. I talked to David [Stearns] three or four days after that, and kind of signed the next day. So it just felt right. It was mutual, and I felt like I could bring value to this team. And I think this team is in a good spot to win.”
The Texas A&M product throws four pitches from a 3/4 arm slot, and has been adept at suppressing hard contact since he returned to the Major Leagues in 2020. He owns a 4.04 ERA and a 3.76 FIP in 227 Major League games over seven seasons, but had back-to-back seasons with an ERA under 3.00 in 2022 with Tampa Bay and 2023 with the Mets.
“He’s a guy you feel good about whether [he’s facing] a righty or a lefty,” said manager Carlos Mendoza. “The experience guy that comes in the middle of an inning with traffic, in a clean eating he’ll get you three outs. Could be in the ninth, could be the eighth, could be as early as the six. There’s a lot of flexibility there, having a guy like that is important, and we definitely missed him. I’m glad that he’s back.”
METS SIGN MITCH VOIT
Michigan’s two-way star Mitch Voit, the Mets’ first selection in the draft last weekend, made a visit to Citi Field on Friday to sign his contract. Voit will begin his professional career in Port St. Lucie where he will play infield full time. As a junior, Voit dropped pitching, playing 55 games at second base, leading the Wolverines in home runs (14), walks (40), steals (14), slugging (.668) and OPS (1.139).
The 38th overall pick, Voit signed for $1.75 million, under the slot value, using some of the money to buy his mom a Chanel purse. A Milwaukee native who went to high school in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, the same high school as Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell, Voit introduced himself on a post-draft conference call as a “winner.”
Voit might be best known for his viral celebration during a game against USC. After sliding into third with a three-run triple, Voit pretended to snort the third-base chalk as if snorting a line of cocaine. The 20-year-old later apologized on X.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Outfielder/DH Jesse Winker had an epidural for his lower back and will continue to be shut down from baseball activities for another 7-10 days. The Mets don’t expect him back anytime soon. Outfielder/DH Starling Marte (right knee bruise) continues baseball activities and is expected to return early next week.
Right-hander Jose Butto (undisclosed illness) is on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse. Right-handed starter/reliever Paul Blackburn (shoulder impingement) will continue his rehab in Port St. Lucie in the Florida Complex League.
Right-hander Max Kranick has been shut down for the season and will undergo a UCL repair procedure, his second Tommy John surgery since 2022.
Left-hander Richard Lovelady was designated for assignment to make room for Raley on the roster.
