Mets' Post-Deadline Bullpen Plans, Aside From Devin Williams, Are Looking Mighty Suspect

One of the downsides of a team trading most of its best relievers at the deadline is that the replacements are either pushes or downgrades, rarely upgrades. That’s where the New York Mets stand with their bullpen after the conclusion of the 2026 trade season. The outlook beyond closer Devin Williams for the final two months is grim.

Over a 72-hour span that ended Monday afternoon, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns shipped out A.J. Minter, Huascar Brazoban, Brooks Raley and Luke Weaver in separate trades. The pitchers who came back in those deals are not major league-ready, save for possibly 27-year-old Zach Franklin, who was part of the return for Brazoban from the Chicago White Sox.

So, that leaves holdovers on the 40-man roster and healthy arms at Triple-A Syracuse to fill the gaps for the remainder of the season. Let's figure out how the Mets will use their collection of pitchers to get from now to the conclusion of the campaign.

The Rehabbers

Dedniel Nunez, Austin Warren

Nunez and Warren will be the most solid options if they come back strong from Tommy John surgery and a forearm strain, respectively. Both have been rehabbing in the minors the past few weeks. Nunez was becoming a trusted piece when his elbow blew out a second time last year. Warren flung enough good sweepers this year to earn a semi-permanent role, although his 4.63 ERA and 4.64 FIP don’t scream that he needs to stay up.

Status: Nunez has been activated and looked good in his first taste of action on 8/5.

Every Day They’re Shuttling

Bryce Conley, Xzavion Curry, Daniel Duarte, Dan Hammer, Chayce McDermott, Tobias Myers, Jonathan Pintaro, Matt Seelinger, Robert Stock

We're assuming that Kodai Senga and Stock replaces him in long relief for these purposes, but truthfully, those two are interchangeable in those roles. Stock can be moved off the 40-man at little cost, which is how the shuttle works. Conley and Duarte will begin the late-season dance on the active roster. Conley, 31, will make his MLB debut when he gets into a game. Duarte, 29, has pitched in eight games for New York over three stints. The results have been there: a 1.42 ERA (2.94 FIP) in 12⅔ innings and a 26.7 percent strikeout rate.

Curry, Hammer, Myers, Pintaro and Seelinger have been up and down . . . and up . . . and down. Curry got a “Thanks for eating innings” demotion to Syracuse last weekend after throwing five solid innings Friday. Seelinger joined the "Met for a Day" club after being acquired in a trade with the Detroit Tigers and then allowing seven runs. Hammer received the same “honor” after his call-up before the All-Star break, but he didn’t get into a game. Myers and Pintaro can throw multiple innings, but neither one excites. McDermott figures to get a look after being acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in a minor-league trade Monday for catcher Ben Rortvedt.

One thing is for certain: The car services won’t be hurting for business as the Mets’ organization keeps doing its thing.

Status: McDermott and Curry have been selected to the active roster, joining Duarte in New York.

The Rotation Candidate

Jonah Tong

With Peralta and Holmes gone, the starting staff needs attention, too, and Tong appears ready to take one of those spots. He was sharper in his past three Triple-A starts (three earned runs allowed in 14⅔ innings) after struggling for about the first month after his June demotion. His fastball velocity reached into the high-90s his last time out. Stearns can run him, Zac Thornton, Christian Scott and Nolan McLean out to the mound as part of a young core in a five- or six-man rotation that would also include Sean Manaea and Senga.

Status: Tong continues to pitch in Triple-A for the time being.

Waiting For The Call

Zach Franklin, Ofreidy Gomez, Joe Jacques, Ryan Lambert, Nate Lavender, Dylan Ross, Ben Simon, Matt Turner, Jefry Yan

Ross technically got the call last September for the final weekend of the season, but he didn’t get into a game in that fateful series in Miami. This year, his ERA at Syracuse is 7.96. Franklin may get his first call-up to audition for his new club. Lavender, Turner and Yan are candidates to fill the left-handed relief role opened by the trades of Minter and Raley. Yan has the best stats (2.40 ERA in 15 innings) of the group. Gomez, Jacques and Lambert have all been ineffective.

Pitchers who come off the minor league IL, random waiver claims, and minor league trades will expand this list as the Mets play out the string. If you thought the bullpen churn the first four months was annoying, wait until Stearns and his lieutenants try to juggle five or six spots with journeymen and suspects through the end of September.

Status: Yan made his electric MLB debut this week, with Lavender joining him on the active roster.