The New York Mets are facing a difficult path to salvaging their season after a disappointing start.
Despite entering the year with expectations as National League contenders, their performance through 35 games has fallen well short, leaving them in last place in the NL East.
While a single roster move won’t fix their struggles, the team is looking for small ways to strengthen the bullpen.
According to Francys Romero of BeisbolFR, left-handed reliever Cionel Pérez, recently designated for assignment by the Washington Nationals, has joined the Mets on a minor league deal.
Pérez struggled during his brief time in Washington, finishing with a 6.19 ERA, 11 walks, and nine strikeouts across 16 innings, as noted by MLB Trade Rumors’ Steve Adams.
It marks another tough season for the 30-year-old, who previously enjoyed success with the Baltimore Orioles from 2022 to 2024 but regressed sharply last year, allowing 20 runs in just over 21 innings.
During his strong run with Baltimore, Pérez posted a standout 1.40 ERA in 2022 over 57.2 innings, establishing himself as a reliable bullpen arm.
He is expected to begin his Mets tenure at Triple-A Syracuse after previously breaking camp with the Nationals.
As Adams pointed out, New York doesn’t have an urgent need for left-handed relief, but adding a hard-throwing arm with past success offers a low-risk depth move.
