The New York Mets are bringing back a familiar arm to add depth to their bullpen, claiming left-handed pitcher Richard Lovelady off waivers from the Washington Nationals on Saturday, while placing right-hander Justin Hagenman on the 60-day injured list with a rib fracture.
Hagenman, who pitched nine games with one start last season and posted a 4.56 ERA over 23.2 innings, will be sidelined for at least two months. Lovelady, who split time between the Mets and Toronto Blue Jays in 2025, recorded a 6.30 ERA in 10 innings for New York and an 8.49 ERA across 11.2 total innings that year, though he boasts a career 5.35 ERA in 118 MLB relief appearances.
His best season came in 2022 with the Kansas City Royals, when he posted a 3.48 ERA over 20.2 innings, and he showed promise this spring with a 2.25 ERA in four innings for Washington.
Lovelady, previously designated for assignment by the Mets four times before being claimed by the Nationals, now gets another shot to compete for a bullpen spot in New York’s crowded camp.
Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Tobias Myers, Luis Garcia, and Brooks Raley are all likely locks, with two remaining spots potentially going to veteran closer Craig Kimbrel and Huascar Brazoban, who is representing the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.
Left-hander Bryan Hudson is also in the mix but has struggled this spring with an 11.57 ERA in just 2.1 innings.
