Mets Add Player in Free Agency After Missing MLB Playoffs

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Oct 21, 2025 11:24 PM ET

The New York Mets had a disappointing end to their 2025 season. The Mets missed the playoffs after spending nearly a billion dollars in the offseason investing into the roster, signing stars such as Juan Soto and re-signing Pete Alonso. With an opportunity on the final day of the regular season, New York dropped a game to the Miami Marlins, missing out on the final NL wild card spot. If the Mets had won, the group would have earned the final postseason spot.

As the Mets regroup in this year’s offseason, the team’s main focus will be retooling the starting rotation and bolstering the depth in the bullpen. The Mets finished with a team-wide 4.03 ERA, ranking in the bottom half of the league.

New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza (64)© Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

The Mets addressed the pitching depth officially on Monday according to the MiLB Transactions Log , adding a left-handed relief arm, Joe Jacques, to the minor-league system.

New York subsequently assigned Jacques on Tuesday to Triple-A. MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo reported that the Mets agreed to terms with Jacques last Wednesday, Oct. 15, though the move wasn’t made official until Monday. Jacques will receive an invite to Major League camp and, if he makes the roster, will earn $800,000 as an incentive.

Lefty sidearm reliever Joe Jacques has agreed to terms with the Mets on a minor league deal, per source, and will receive a Major League camp invite. The deal is worth a pro-rated $800,000 if he's on the roster.

Jacques, a native of Red Bank, NJ, has 25 games of MLB experience.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) October 15, 2025

Jacques has appeared in 25 games in his limited experience in MLB. He has a 2–1 record, 5.46 ERA and 1.652 WHIP. The 30-year-old sidearm southpaw has collected one save and 22 strikeouts. If Jacques makes the roster for New York, it will mark the third team he’s appeared for in the big leagues, previously playing for the Boston Red Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Mets will have multiple relief pitchers entering free agency at the conclusion of the World Series, with the possibility of All-Star closing pitcher Edwin Diaz opting out of his current contract. There is certainly a path for Jacques to find his way onto the active roster with a strong performance in spring training.

With uncertainty surrounding the bullpen and key decisions looming, the Mets will be evaluating every option heading into spring. For Jacques, the invite represents a chance to carve out a role on a team still searching for stability. If he can deliver consistency and command, he may become a valuable piece in New York’s 2026 relief group.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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