The New York Mets bolstered their bullpen with multiple arms ahead of last week’s trade deadline. Several days later, the unit is expected to be bolstered again with key Mets relievers returning from the injured list.
Carlos Mendoza on J.D. Martinez‘s slump, Ottavino’s strong stretch & says “there’s a good chance” RP Reed Garrett joins the team in Seattle this weekend #Mets pic.twitter.com/PJocZIlG93
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) August 7, 2024
Mets Close To Activating Relievers Reed Garrett, Sean Reid-Foley From Injured List
Reed Garrett
Manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters on Wednesday that there is a “good chance” right-hander Reed Garrett will join the team this weekend in Seattle. Garrett landed on the injured list in early July due to right elbow inflammation. The Mets did not expect him to miss much time, and it looks like he will miss roughly one month ultimately.
The 31-year-old has pitched in two rehab outings this week. He got shelled for three runs in 1/3 of an inning in his first outing but pitched a scoreless inning with three strikeouts in his second. Garrett will likely pitch one more time before the Mets activate him from the injured list.
Three strikeouts in a scoreless inning for Reed Garrett at Triple-A Syracuse 💪 pic.twitter.com/0VvX88Nk0E
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) August 7, 2024
Garrett came out of nowhere to become one of the key relievers in the Mets bullpen. In his first 18 games, the righty tossed 26 innings and posted a 1.04 ERA with a whopping 43 strikeouts. However, his workload and possible elbow issue seemingly caught up to him.
In his next 18 outings, Garrett produced a 7.88 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 16 innings. In that time, he gave up five homers despite relying on a heavy split-finger that should generate ground balls.
The Mets utilized Garrett in high-leverage situations before the reliever landed on the injured list. But with other veterans pitching better and the team adding multiple arms at the deadline, New York could bring Garrett along slowly.
Sean Reid-Foley
Though Garrett could return in the coming days, fellow right-hander Sean Reid-Foley could return in the coming weeks. Reid-Foley landed on the injured list a couple of weeks before Garrett due to a right shoulder impingement.
Reid-Foley has struggled in five rehab appearances. In those outings, he lasted a total of 3 1/3 innings and allowed five runs, five hits, and seven walks while striking out six. But when it comes to a timeline for Reid-Foley returning to the majors, Mendoza said health, not results, will be the commanding factor.
“[We want to see] A little bit of everything. Results and how he’s feeling after each outing,” Mendoza said. “It comes down to how he’s feeling the next day. We might want to see a back-to-back or maybe a 2-out-of-3 or one-plus [innings] out of him because he’s been dealing with this [injury] all year.
The Mets, understandably, will take Reid-Foley’s rehab slowly. The 28-year-old has not logged many innings in recent years due to a plethora of injuries. His innings total this season is already higher than what he accumulated in 2022-23 combined and is his highest total since 2019.
Reed Garrett and Sean Reid-Foley are on their way back to the Mets on rehab assignments.
With a recently reinforced bullpen, who will be the casualties when these two are back in Queens? #LGM
WATCH: https://t.co/LBwgCpPvru pic.twitter.com/RdBnJoUHND
— Why Am I A Mets Fan? Podcast (@WhyMetsPod) August 6, 2024
The 28-year-old quietly pitched well in mostly low-leverage situations for the Mets. He produced a 1.66 ERA (233 ERA+) in 21 2/3 innings with solid Whiff, Strikeout, Ground Ball, and Barrel rates.
Due to his lack of options, the Mets must keep Reid-Foley on the team once he returns from the injured list. He will likely have restrictions to keep him as healthy as possible, but New York will surely love to get a solid arm back in the bullpen.
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