The Mets announced that right-hander Reed Garrett underwent ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery, better known as Tommy John surgery, yesterday. He will miss the entire 2026 season. Jorge Castillo of ESPN was among those to relay the message.
The news does not come as a surprise. Elbow issues put him on the injured list multiple times this year and he finished the season on the IL. It was reported in September that he had been recommended for Tommy John surgery but he was still exploring other options. It seems he exhausted the non-surgical alternatives and eventually succumbed to his fate.
It’s an unfortunate blow for the righty, who was previously engineering a nice late-bloomer breakout. With the Mets last year, in his age-31 season, he tossed 57 1/3 innings with a 3.77 earned run average. His 12.1% walk rate was on the high side but he struck out 33.6% of batters faced and got grounders on 44.3% of balls in play. He earned four saves and 14 holds. His results this year were somewhat comparable. He logged 55 1/3 innings with a 3.90 ERA, 26.9% strikeout rate, 10.9% walk rate, 40.4% ground ball rate, three saves and 20 holds.
The Mets could stash him on the 60-day injured list next year but they would have to keep him on the 40-man roster throughout the winter, as there’s no injured list between the World Series and the start of spring training. Garrett is also highly likely to qualify for arbitration as a Super Two player. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects Garrett for a bump to $1.4MM next year. The Mets obviously wouldn’t get anything out of that investment with Garrett set to miss the season, but he would still be under club control for three seasons after that.
Despite the potential long-term control, Garrett is 32 now and would be going into his age-34 season by the time he’s healthy. That means it’s also possible he gets non-tendered and re-signed via a minor league deal, though other clubs would have a chance to talk to him in that scenario.
The Mets will likely be looking to undergo a major bullpen overhaul before next season. Edwin Díaz has a chance to opt out of his contract and will almost certainly do so unless the Mets extend him. Ryne Stanek, Ryan Helsley, Tyler Rogers and Gregory Soto are all impending free agents. Brooks Raley could be retained via club option, if the Mets so choose. Guys like Max Kranick, Frankie Montas, Dedniel Núñez and Danny Young are going to miss the start of next season due to major surgeries and now Garrett’s name is added to the list.
Photo courtesy of Brad Penner, Imagn Images
metzfan Damn shame, but it explains his late season struggles
He also fell apart in the second half of 2024 however
Becuase the Mets abused him. Overworked for two years. Least they could do is tender him a contract and oversee his TJS rehab.
They didn’t abuse him. This is a fallacy that keeps getting repeated. He threw 57 innings last year and 55 this year. Last year he had only eight appearances where he threw more than 30 pitches and five of them were 2+ innings. This year, he never threw more than 29 pitches in an outing.
He’s a reliever and he was used like a normal reliever. TJ surgery is very common. We don’t need to look for someone to blame here. The guy throws upper 90s with several breaking and offspeed pitches. This is just the cost of doing business.
Or, if they non-tender him, they can sign him to a minor league deal and still oversee his TJ. Given the circumstances, its not like teams will be breaking down his door to sign him away from the Mets.
If WFAN say it, it must be true!
The Mets didn’t abuse him. Pitchers on the whole are almost never abused. Guys used to throw literally double the innings they do now without injury.
RIP
comeon back to the Orioles, we can use you for 2027
The Mets no longer have a bullpen.
It could be argued they didn’t have one anyway…
They also don’t have a competent manager, GM or rotation.
Outside of Stanek, Garrett was our biggest reason that we missed the playoffs. He was one of the 3 kings of blowing close games next to Stanek and Drew Smith (who didnt pitch this year). I don’t want any of them on the team, they stink
How about the hitters, who never managed to come through and let the team win a game that they trailed after eight innings? Do they get any of the blame?
At this point, give us a list of pitchers that aren’t having Tommy John surgery. It will be shorter.
First, why would you even be projecting that bullpen – its so weak. Unfounded and iffy speculation, coupled with misinformation.
Nunez just had his TJ in late July. So he’s out for all of ’26.
D Young had his TJ in May. So he’s out for more than half of ’26.
Kranick had flexor tendon repair in mid-season – expected to miss at least part of ’26.
Zero basis for saying Ross and Lambert are major league ready. Both have fewer than 60 IP in their entire pro careers. Ross walked 22 batters in just 32 IP in AAA. Lambert hasn’t even reached AAA yet.
Not to pile on, here. But… you left off Waddell and Austin Warren. Both pitched well for the Mets, and both will be out of options. Warren was extremely good for both the Mets and Syracuse. Waddell was solid for the Mets, plus he is both a lefty and a bulk innings guy who can give you 3 or 4 IP when needed. I imagine one or both could struggle at some point and get DFA’d anyway. But that happens every year. For now, they’re solid picks.
Dr Stearns and his pitching lab need to do Major Reconstructive Surgery on the pitching staff.
Or maybe the pitching lab is the reason for this need in the first place!
And I can see the Mets signing Alexis Diaz for multiple reasons:
1) to present his brother Edwin a chance to resign with the Mets and play alongside his brother,
2) as a lower-cost candidate to be “fixed’ by the infamous “pitching” technicians in the pitching lab.
Dr. Stearns, as you say, seems to like those discount-rack relievers.
Doctor Frankenstearns……. but he won’t have Igor Hefner to help him.
….and Diaz still has options remaining.
David’s working in the lab late one night
When his eyes beheld an eerie sight
Seems his monster toe’d the slab
Looked in for the sign
Then suddenly, to David’s surprise
“He threw the mash” he threw his monster mash
“The monster mash” it was Triple A trash
“He threw the mash” then he’d be gone in a flash
“The monster mash” the DFA’d monster mash!