The New York Mets are missing left-hander A.J. Minter due to a lat injury, but they’ve added a veteran arm to bolster the bullpen with Opening Day approaching.
Lefty Richard Lovelady is back in the Mets organization after being claimed off waivers from the Washington Nationals. To make room on the 40-man roster, right-hander Justin Hagenman was placed on the 60-day injured list.
Lovelady’s absence from New York lasted only about a month. He finished the 2025 season with the Mets but was designated for assignment in January.
The Nationals claimed him but later designated him for assignment to accommodate free agent Zack Littell.
Over six MLB seasons with several teams, Lovelady debuted with the Kansas City Royals in 2019 and has had stints with the Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Rays, and Toronto Blue Jays before landing with the Mets, posting a 5.35 ERA across 111 innings in the majors.
Drafted in the 10th round in 2016 by Kansas City, he excelled in the minors, including a 1.62 ERA across High-A and Double-A in 2017, and reached Triple-A in 2018–2019 before his MLB call-up.
Lovelady primarily relies on a slider, complemented by a four-seam fastball, sinker, and sweeper, with his fastball topping out in the low-90s and elite extension (98th percentile in 2025).
While strikeouts aren’t a strength, he has a 52.6% career groundball rate and generally limits walks, though he occasionally gives up hard contact.
With Minter out for the start of the season after lat surgery, the Mets face a left-handed gap in the bullpen. Minter had been solid last season with Atlanta before joining New York, posting a 1.64 ERA and 31.8% strikeout rate in 13 games.
Veteran Brooks Raley is the only guaranteed lefty in the bullpen so far, after posting a 2.45 ERA and 10 holds last season. The team also added southpaw Bryan Hudson via trade from Chicago, though he struggled to a 5.79 ERA last year with New York.
Other non-roster invitees—including Nate Lavender, Matt Turner, Joe Jacques, and Anderson Severino—are in camp but aren’t likely to make the Opening Day roster.
