Mets Free Agency Wish List: Adrian Morejon Is Worth the Enormous Cost

Image courtesy of Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Mets Video

Not everything was destroyed at the trade deadline, but the New York Mets will have to rebuild part of their bullpen after losing Luke Weaver and Huascar Brazoban, two of their best arms in 2026. Nate Lavender's was one of the group’s revelations and he should receive a greater opportunity after he recorded a 1.66 ERA in 21⅔ innings down the stretch; despite his short stint, Lavender finished with the third-highest fWAR in the bullpen at 0.9, only behind Weaver (1.2) and Brazoban (1.0).

However, he alone can't make up for all the talent the relief corps has lost. Devin Williams left doubts after recording a 4.43 ERA and 4.65 BB/9, and when he got hurt, Kodai Senga received opportunities and finished as the team’s closer. Senga will probably fight to return to the starting rotation next season, which is not certain either, but in any case, the Mets should not depend on either pitcher to carry the bullpen next year.

Thus, it might take a pursuit of another marquee free agent to shore up the high-leverage group.

If there is an elite arm on the free-agent market capable of meeting those needs, it's Adrian Morejon. In 2026, he recorded a 2.83 ERA, 107 strikeouts, and 28 walks in 86 innings and 76 appearances. Morejon has paved the way for closer Mason Miller over these last two seasons, but he has all the necessary characteristics to assume the closer role on any team.

Morejon increased his strikeout rate from 26.0% in 2025 to 30.4% in 2026 and reduced his walks from 8.5% to 8.0%, a lethal adjustment for a pitcher capable of sustaining high velocity, raising the average velocity of his sinker from 97.7 to 99.5 mph. Without a doubt, velocity was key to the great leap in level in Morejon’s arsenal, who saw his strikeout rate jump from the 64th percentile to the 93rd and his whiff rate from the 37th to the 97th.

Although his sinker had a +12 Run Value and continued to be his most-used pitch (47.5%), the changeup went from 6.6% to 23.1% usage and became just as strong of a weapon, generating a 56% whiff rate and limiting hitters to a .156 average and .182 slugging percentage. That evolution changed Morejon’s strategy, since he began using the changeup more in decisive situations and two-strike counts.

Note that he also finished pitching 86 innings in 76 appearances, a new personal record, with 25 of them being appearances in which he pitched more than one inning. A former starter, there should be no doubt about his ability to hold up even with a big workload on his plate.

Of course, there is concern about Morejon’s health, as he missed the last three games of the Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers due to shoulder discomfort. There's no reason to believe that such an issue will be a long-term problem, but it is worth considering after the Mets dealt with so many injuries in 2026.

The other interesting point here would be the obstacles that his signing would represent. The Padres extended him a qualifying offer, which Morejon will have to accept or reject before November 17. If he rejects it and signs with New York before a possible lockout, the Mets could lose their two highest available selections after the first round—the second-highest and the fifth-highest picks—and $1 million from their international signing bonus pool, according to the current rules for teams that pay the luxury tax. That's an enormous cost for a reliever.

Still, Morejon might be the rare bullpen arm who is worth that kind of investment. He's one of the best left-handed pitchers in baseball and would bring a brand new dynamic to late-game situations in Queens.