After reportedly watching Edwin Díaz depart for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Mets now face the challenge of rebuilding a bullpen that struggled last season. President of baseball operations David Stearns said Tuesday that he’d be comfortable entering the season with Devin Williams in the ninth-inning role, noting he would be the closer “if the season started now.” That gives the Mets a temporary answer, but they still need to replace Díaz’s production and strengthen the relief corps overall.
Fortunately for New York, this winter’s reliever market is considered one of the deepest in years, giving the front office multiple avenues to upgrade. According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, one familiar face is on their radar. Heyman reported on X that the Mets are interested in bringing back right-hander Tyler Rogers, writing, “Mets are showing interest in Tyler Rogers, the one deadline pickup who performed superbly,” before adding, “Unsurprisingly, Rogers has a very strong market.”
Rogers is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, finishing 2024 with a 1.98 ERA in 81 appearances split between the San Francisco Giants and the Mets. New York acquired him at the trade deadline in a deal that sent pitchers José Buttó and Blake Tidwell, along with outfielder Drew Gilbert, to San Francisco. Once he arrived in Queens, Rogers delivered exactly what the Mets hoped for: 28 appearances, a 2.30 ERA, 10 strikeouts and just three walks.
While Rogers has never profiled as a strikeout-heavy reliever, that shouldn’t worry Mets fans. His value comes from his unusual delivery, command, and ability to force weak contact. He’s often labeled an “old school” pitcher who specializes in generating grounders and harmless fly balls rather than blowing hitters away with velocity.
Spotrac projects Rogers to land a two-year contract worth $22.7 million in free agency, an average annual value of $11.35 million. For a Mets team with several roster holes to address, that price range could make him an efficient signing—one that stabilizes the bullpen without consuming too much of the team’s offseason budget.