Reed Garrett’s reliability proved costly this season

In 2024, Reed Garrett enjoyed a breakout season with the Mets, especially early on when he was striking out batters at a phenomenal clip. He ended the year with a 3.77 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 57.1 innings pitched which was good for a rate of 13 strikeouts per nine innings.

After earning Carlos Mendoza’s trust the previous season, Garrett was again called upon frequently in 2025. Despite being placed on the IL in August, and then being shut down in September with elbow inflammation, the righty still pitched 55.1 innings, just two innings shy of his career high in ‘24. That elbow injury resulted in Garrett undergoing Tommy John in the offseason, meaning he will miss all of 2026 and the Mets will be down another bullpen arm. Both Dedniel Núñez and Tylor Megill also underwent the procedure and are expected to miss next season as well. Danny Young and Frankie Montas also required the surgery but they were both non-tendered by the team.

Whether it was the elbow injury or something else, Garrett was not the same pitcher in the second half of the season. In the first half he owned a 2.87 ERA in 37.2 innings pitched and batters were hitting just .213/.311/.312 against him. He held opponents to a .623 OPS and he gave up just two home runs. In limited action in the second half, he gave 3 home runs and opponents were hitting .243/.312/.429 against him and the OPS jumped up to .740. While he wasn’t awful, he wasn’t as reliable as he was in the first half. Despite the rockier results, he was still successful at striking out batters, racking up 23 in 17.2 innings pitched in the second half.

So now, Mendoza will be without one of his key relievers next season, but the team has already tendered him a contract as he rehabs from Tommy John. He is still under team control for four more seasons so hopefully he can come back healthy and make an impact for the 2027 team.