The Mets and reliever Luke Jackson are in agreement on a minor league deal, per Will Sammon of The Athletic. The right-hander is a client of Beverly Hills Sports Council.
Jackson debuted with the Rangers in 2015 and has played in parts of 10 big-league seasons through 2025. He spent 2017-21 with the Braves but underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2022, causing him to miss that season. He returned with the Giants in 2023 and split the following year between San Francisco and a return trip to Atlanta. He became more of a journeyman in 2025, pitching 51 innings over 52 appearances with the Rangers, Tigers, and Mariners. He had a 4.06 ERA overall but finished strong with a 2.38 ERA in 11 1/3 innings for the Mariners. He also appeared three times for Seattle in the postseason, allowing one earned run in three innings.
The 34-year-old peaked with 18 saves and 1.3 fWAR for the Braves in 2019. He has not been especially dominant in the years since, but he has managed to stick around thanks to his talent for inducing groundballs. Since that 2019 season, Jackson has never posted a groundball rate below 50%. His 51.1% mark since the start of 2023 puts him in the top 20% of qualified relievers. That ability has helped him withstand a decline in velocity as well as a below-average walk rate as he pitches into his mid-30s. His strikeout rate also fell to 17.4% in 2025, although he has rebounded in that area before. Indeed, a look at his stats page shows a pattern of below-average strikeout seasons followed by a few above-average years.
Given his experience, it wouldn’t be a surprise for the Mets to select his contract at some point. With Devin Williams and Luke Weaver handling the late innings, the low and medium-leverage bullpen spots are covered by Huascar Brazobán, Tobias Myers, Richard Lovelady, and Sean Manaea. The latter has been a starter throughout his career and could regain that role in mid-April as the Mets shift to a six-man rotation. That would leave them with one less bullpen spot, so Jackson’s likeliest path to the roster is by replacing one of the other three relievers. Lovelady has been designated for assignment three times since September, including twice by the Mets. He could be the odd man out in a Jackson call-up, given his rough start to the year.
Photo courtesy of John Froschauer, Imagn Images
Welcome to another Chuck Churn, an actual player by the way.
Gobble gobble innings eater.
You can never have too many.
Still remember that world series run! He had a great year in 2021..Ahhh memories
Got to play in Jeter Tull with Ian Anderson!
?? You’ve got to elaborate…. Pretty sure no one has any one has what you’re talking about. No one named Luke Jackson was ever in Jethro Tull.
Luke almost at 10 years service time. Hope this gets it for ya.
Good. The Mets deserve him.
Enjoy your purchase.
Did he boink your mom or something?
Snappy come-back there lil’ skippy.
I will respond to your question in a few minutes after your sister finishes her oral ministrations as she kneels at my feet
That’d be great if I ever had one there chief, I’m sure that you’ll find my brother more suitable though
I’m sure he will be pleased to hear that. Nice of you to volunteer him for service.
Tell him to work on loosening up those jaw muscles. I don’t want to hear any whining
No problem. Only because it’s Easter I’ll “hop” on it right away 😂
Someone please explain why Stearns would spend all this money on the roster but not 1-2 solid relievers . To make matters worse, Mendoza is terrible at bullpen management. Mets will lose a lot of games this year due to middle relief
Have a happy and safe holiday
Luke never met a lead he couldn’t blow