The New York Mets bolstered their left-handed reliever depth Friday by signing a former World Series hero away from an National League East rival in free agency.
A.J. Minter, 31, had spent his entire eight-year major league career with the Atlanta Braves. Now, he’ll head to Queens on a two-year, $22 million contract pending a physical, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Andy Martino of SNY was the first to report the two sides had reached a deal.
Minter, who was the winning pitcher in his World Series debut in Game 1 of the Braves’ 2021 victory over the Houston Astros, will try to help the Mets reach the World Series for the first time since 2015.
Last season, New York saw its season end with a six-game NL Championship Series loss against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Since then they have been big spenders in free agency.
Besides issuing the largest contract in baseball history to right fielder Juan Soto (15 years, $765 million), the Mets have added Frankie Montas and Griffin Canning to a rotation that includes holdovers Sean Manaea, Kodai Senga, Paul Blackburn and David Peterson.
Former Mets general manager Zack Scott noted earlier Friday that the team was “being aggressive in the bullpen market.”
Minter went 5-4 with a 2.62 ERA in 39 games last season for Atlanta, striking out 35 batters and walking 11 in 34.1 innings. Although he was limited by a left hip injury that required two separate injured list stints, durability has been among Minter’s strongsuits since his 2017 debut.
In 384 career games — all out of the bullpen — Minter is 24-29 with a 3.28 ERA and 422 strikeouts in 348.2 innings. Additionally, Minter has made 20 postseason appearances for Atlanta, going 3-1 with a 2.88 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 25 innings.
Minter has limited experience in the closer’s role (36 career saves) but that won’t be needed in New York, where Edwin Diaz is among the most experienced ninth-inning options in the game.
From 2021-23, Minter averaged 69 appearances per season while pitching to a 3.13 ERA (136 ERA+) and a 1.096 WHIP.
According to multiple reports, Minter’s contract includes a player opt-out after Year 1.
The Mets signaled a willingness to move on from free agent first baseman Pete Alonso according to multiple reports Thursday. Although a $22 million deal for Minter certainly wouldn’t preclude them from reuniting with Alonso, it bolsters the notion that David Stearns and the Mets’ front office has turned its attention elsewhere.
Minter, however, could signal the Mets are out on left-handed reliever Tanner Scott, an All-Star in 2024 who recorded 22 saves for the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres.
