The New York Mets are reaching back into baseball history with their latest pitching addition, signing a familiar name that will likely spark memories for Chicago Cubs fans. The move, reported by The Athletic, brings a veteran arm into the Mets’ pitching mix, offering both depth and the potential for something unexpected.
According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon, the Mets agreed to a minor-league deal with Edwards, planning to slot him as a potential depth starter in the Triple-A rotation. While Edwards has spent 11 major-league seasons exclusively as a reliever, his recent stint pitching in Mexico saw him start 14 games and rack up 74 2/3 innings with a 3.38 ERA. The Mets will likely be curious to see if some of that starting-pitcher magic can translate back to the U.S. professional ranks.
Edwards’ journey in baseball has been anything but conventional. A 48th-round draft pick by the Texas Rangers in 2011 out of Mid-Carolina High School, he came into professional baseball with long odds against him. His nickname, “The String Bean Slinger,” reflects his lanky 6-foot-3, 165-pound frame—an image that stands out even in a sport full of towering athletes.
Though he began his professional career as a starting pitcher in the minors, Edwards transitioned to the bullpen once he reached the majors, where he quickly made a name for himself as a dependable reliever. He broke into the big leagues in 2015 and spent five seasons with the Cubs, where he became a recognizable arm in the bullpen. Since then, Edwards has bounced around the league, pitching for the Washington Nationals, San Diego Padres, Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Atlanta Braves, and back to the Rangers, showing resilience and adaptability at every stop.
Edwards’ 2025 campaign has been a whirlwind. He started the season with two appearances for the Angels before moving on to pitch two scoreless outings for the Rangers. Seeking more consistent work, he then took his talents south of the border to Mexico, where he returned to starting form and impressed with a 3.38 ERA over 14 starts. While the move to the Mexican league may not carry the same prestige as MLB, it demonstrated that Edwards still has the ability to handle a starter’s workload—a skill the Mets will be eager to evaluate.
At 34 years old, Edwards is now in the twilight years of a long professional career, but his major-league numbers remain solid. He has accumulated a 3.56 ERA with 334 strikeouts over 286 innings pitched at the MLB level. Those stats underscore his consistency and ability to get outs, even after a career marked by transitions between teams, roles, and leagues.
For the Mets, Edwards’ signing isn’t just about filling a roster spot; it’s about exploring potential upside. With a team that has shown flexibility in using its bullpen and minor-league depth creatively, Edwards could see an unusual mix of roles, including spot starts in Triple-A and occasional bullpen stints in the majors. It’s a low-risk, high-reward scenario for a team always looking to find hidden value and veteran experience in its pitching staff.
Beyond the numbers, Edwards’ story resonates as one of perseverance. From a late-round draft pick to a veteran reliever with more than a decade in professional baseball, his journey is a testament to persistence, adaptability, and the unpredictable nature of a baseball career. For Mets fans, it’s another intriguing storyline this offseason—one that brings a mix of nostalgia, curiosity, and genuine excitement about what a seasoned, versatile arm might bring to the mound.
As the Mets look to see what Edwards still has left in the tank, one thing is clear: this isn’t just another minor-league signing. It’s a calculated gamble on experience, versatility, and the hope that a veteran who has seen it all can still make a difference for a team chasing success in 2026. Baseball is a game of second chances, and Carl Edwards Jr. is about to get his next one with the New York Mets.