Mets' A.J. Minter might need season-ending surgery; Brooks Raley returns to club
Mets relief pitcher A.J. Minter delivers against the Miami Marlins during the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game at Citi Field on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
The Mets brought back Brooks Raley — on a contract that became official Tuesday, one year with a team option for 2026 — because he is “a good lefthanded reliever and we like those,” David Stearns said.
They did not have an obvious need or spot for him at the time of the initial agreement last week. But since they don’t expect him back until July, following Tommy John surgery last year, the Mets wanted to add his name to the depth chart and figured potential bullpen crowdedness would sort itself out between now and then.
And then that eventual problem became an immediate problem, the Mets developing a Raley-shaped hole over the weekend.
A.J. Minter, their top lefty reliever, might need surgery to fix his torn left lat, manager Carlos Mendoza said. He was seeking second opinions early this week and planned to decide within a day or two.
If Minter opts for the operation, his season would be over. If he tries the rest-and-rehab route, he has a chance to return this year.
Either way, Minter stands to miss months, altering an early-season, late-inning bullpen setup that has been extremely effective.
“First and foremost, you feel awful for A.J.,” said Stearns, the president of baseball operations. “He worked incredibly hard to get back from his hip injury, he did a great job rehabbing, he was throwing the ball incredibly well. For this to happen, it’s a very tough blow. He was a big part of our ‘pen, so we’re going to have to have guys step up. I think we will. He was a big part of our ‘pen and it’s a hole to fill.”
Mendoza said, describing Minter’s lat injury as “pretty significant”: “It’s a big blow, not going to lie. Not only because of his ability to throw in high-leverage [innings], but his ability to get lefties and righties . . . We gotta keep going. Sucks for him, especially going down this early, but guys will get opportunities.”
Minter, 31 years old and a former longtime standout in Atlanta’s bullpen, had hip surgery last August. He signed a two-year, $22 million pact (with an opt-out clause after the first year) with the Mets in January. In 13 appearances before getting hurt, he posted a 1.64 ERA.
“Mint has been incredible, not only as a pitcher but as a human being,” reliever Reed Garrett said. “Hopefully it’s not as severe, as bad as we think it is and we’ll get him back this year, but we’ll miss him.”
In Raley, 36, the Mets have a Minter replacement — just not immediately. They expect him to return in July, shortly before or after the All-Star break. He is about 11 months removed from Tommy John surgery.
Already, Raley is throwing bullpen sessions. Mendoza said he would relocate to the Mets’ facility in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and advance to facing hitters “hopefully in the next couple of weeks.”
“We’re not going to push this,” Stearns said. “At some point during that month is probably the right timeframe.”
When Minter was mulling his offseason choice of team, he saw Raley in Texas. They are longtime acquaintances via their shared alma mater, Texas A&M. Raley, who was also a free agent after pitching for the Mets the past two seasons, put in a strong recommendation.
“It was good for him to fill me in,” Minter said. “He’s the man.”
The Mets now have 2026 team options on three relievers coming off Tommy John surgery, with Raley joining Drew Smith and Adbert Alzolay.
Nimmo out
After one of the best individual offensive games in franchise history — 11 total bases and a Mets' record-tying nine RBIs — Brandon Nimmo was out of the lineup as the Mets opened a three-game set against the Diamondbacks.
But no, Mendoza was not looking for a platoon advantage against the lefthanded Eduardo Rodriguez.
“I’m not resting Brandon, especially after that game last night,” Mendoza said. “He’s just sick today. He’s in rough shape right now.”
Nimmo is at least the sixth Mets player to succumb to a stomach bug in recent weeks.
Some personnel news
The Mets cycled in a fresh arm to aid a weary bullpen Tuesday afternoon, calling up righthander Kevin Herget. They designated for assignment righty Jose Urena, who picked up a three-inning save Monday in his only appearance with the team.
On Wednesday, the Mets will call up lefthander Brandon Waddell from Triple-A Syracuse, Mendoza said. He either will start against the Diamondbacks or enter in relief behind an opener.
Here’s the pitch
Singer-songwriter John Mayer threw out a ceremonial first pitch to his friend Francisco Lindor.
Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.
