JUST IN: Left-hander A.J. Minter and Mets finalize $22 million, 2-year contract

NEW YORK (AP) – Left-hander A.J. Minter and the New York Mets finalized a $22 million, two-year contract on Thursday.

Minter can opt out after the 2025 World Series and become a free agent again.

The 31-year-old, coming off left hip surgery, has spent his entire eight-year major league career with the NL East rival Atlanta Braves, going 24-29 with a 3.28 ERA and 36 saves in 384 appearances – all in relief.

He was 5-4 with a 2.62 ERA and one save in 39 games last year, striking out 35 and walking 11 in 34 1/3 innings before season-ending surgery in August.

Dr. Thomas Byrd in Nashville, Tennessee, discovered a torn labrum, a hip impingement and a lesion on Minter´s femur, and the procedure required performing a microfracture on the hip, MLB.com reported.

Minter had been sidelined from May 30 to June 30 with left hip inflammation. He also missed two weeks in July 2023 due to left shoulder inflammation.

FILE - Atlanta Braves' A.J. Minter throws during a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

When healthy, Minter has been a reliable and effective reliever with nasty stuff, racking up 422 career strikeouts in 348 2/3 innings. He had a career-high 15 saves in 2018, and 10 in 2023.

Minter was a key member of a terrific bullpen that helped Atlanta win the 2021 World Series, and is 3-1 with a 2.88 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 20 postseason outings covering 25 innings.

After filling holes in their starting rotation with free agent deals for Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas, Griffin Canning and former All-Star closer Clay Holmes earlier this offseason, the Mets still have work to do in the bullpen.

Minter gives manager Carlos Mendoza a proven late-inning lefty to help set up star closer Edwin Díaz, something New York lacked last year while making a surprise run to the National League Championship Series.

Last week, the Mets brought back outfielder and designated hitter Jesse Winker on a $7.5 million, one-year contract. The deals with Minter and Winker could signal the club doesn´t expect to re-sign All-Star slugger and fan favorite Pete Alonso, with owner Steve Cohen and president of baseball operations David Stearns now allotting resources elsewhere.

Minter gets a $1 million signing bonus and a $10 million salary this year, and he has an $11 million player option for 2026.

He would get $100,000 for World Series MVP; $50,000 each for All-Star, League Championship Series MVP and a Gold Glove; and $100,000 for World Series MVP. He also would earn $50,000 for winning the Cy Young Award, $25,000 for finishing second in the voting and $10,000 for third.

Winker gets a $1 million signing bonus, a $6.5 million salary and the chance to earn $1.5 million in performance bonuses for plate appearances: $250,000 for 350, $500,000 each for 400 and 450 and $250,000 for 500. He would get $50,000 for winning MVP, $25,000 for finishing second in the voting and $10,000 for third, Winker also would get $50,000 each for making the All-Star team or winning a Gold Glove or Silver Slugger or winning League Championship Series MVP.

Related Posts

BLOCKBUSTER ALERT: The Dodgers are staring at a $200 million crossroads to pry Bo Bichette away from the Blue Jays, a move that could reshape their infield and shift the balance of power in the league. Every dollar, every clause, and every strategic decision matters as LA eyes a superstar who could redefine the roster overnight. The stakes are sky-high, and one contract could rewrite the Dodgers’ future!!!

Dodgers must offer Bo Bichette an eight-year, $200 million contract to steal the elite shortstop from the Blue Jays this offseason.

Crаіg Breѕlow dіdn’t flіnch when аѕked аbout the Red Sox offѕeаѕon рlаnѕ—hіѕ аnѕwer cаme wіth а cаlm confіdence thаt іnѕtаntly cаught аttentіon. After yeаrѕ of fruѕtrаtіon over tіght budgetѕ аnd mіѕѕed oррortunіtіeѕ, Boѕton’ѕ new bаѕebаll chіef mаde іt cleаr the mіndѕet hаѕ ѕhіfted. “We hаve the аbіlіty to ѕрend аnd іmрrove,” he ѕаіd, not аѕ а ѕlogаn but аѕ а ѕtаtement of іntent. Around Fenwаy, thаt ѕіngle lіne ѕраrked hoрe аnd debаte іn equаl meаѕure. Could thіѕ fіnаlly be the offѕeаѕon the Red Sox return to bіg-mаrket аggreѕѕіon? Breѕlow’ѕ tone ѕuggeѕted he’ѕ not juѕt tаlkіng; he’ѕ reаdy to аct. For fаnѕ crаvіng рroof thаt Boѕton ѕtіll рlаyѕ to wіn, thіѕ mіght be the ѕіgnаl they’ve been wаіtіng for

Red ѕox Chіef Crаіg Breѕlow ѕіgnаlѕ а New erа of Confіdence, ѕрendіng, аnd Bіg-Mаrket аmbіtіon When Crаіg Breѕlow wаѕ аѕked аbout the Boѕton Red ѕox’ѕ offѕeаѕon dіrectіon,…

BOMBSHELL BASEBALL BETRAYAL: Alex Bregmаn Predіcted to Dіtch Red Sox for MASSIVE Deаl Wіth NL Contender…

The Boston Red Sox won the Alex Bregman sweepstakes last offseason, and it’s paid off in a big way to this point. Bregman was a fan favorite in Boston this

2026 South Side Sox Top 100 Prospects

This year’s list of Top 100 Prospects, as determined by our South Side Sox minors writers and you, our reader-voters!

⚡ SHOCKWAVE REPORT: A $65 Million Star Is Now Predicted to Cut Ties With the Braves — And the Stunning Twist Is That He May Be Headed Straight for the WORST Team in MLB in a Move That Could Flip His Career Upside Down!

Explore the latest Braves news and rumors as MLB free agent rumors heat up. What lies ahead for the team and Marcell Ozuna?

⚾ INSIDER UPDATE: Boston Red Sox Reveal Bold 2026 Plan for Rising Talent Kristian Campbell — “Permanent Home in the Outfield,” Says Club Executive!

The Boston Red Sox appear to have learned their lesson with Kristian Campbell, which has led to some changes being made ahead of 2026.