The New York Mets just brought back Kevin Herget on a minor league deal, and honestly, if you blinked, you probably missed it. It wasn’t a headline-grabber like the massive Bo Bichette signing or the hunt for top-tier starters. But in the weird, exhausting world of a 162-game baseball season, these are the moves that keep a bullpen from imploding by July.
Herget is back in the mix with an invite to Spring Training in Port St. Lucie. It’s a classic depth play. He knows the organization, they know his stuff, and he provides that "break glass in case of emergency" arm for the Triple-A Syracuse shuttle.
Who Exactly is Kevin Herget?
If the name sounds familiar, it’s because he was already wearing orange and blue last year. Basically, Herget is a 34-year-old righty who has spent his entire career grinding. He’s the definition of a journeyman. Drafted in the 39th round back in 2013—a round that doesn't even exist anymore—he didn't even taste the Big Leagues until he was 31.
You’ve gotta respect the hustle.
Last season was a bit of a whirlwind for him. He started with the Mets, got DFA’d in May, spent some time with the Braves (even threw a scoreless inning for them), and then found his way back to Queens in July.
By the Numbers: 2025 Performance
When he actually got on the mound for the Mets in 2025, he wasn't bad. Like, at all.
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- Games: 6
- Innings: 12.0
- ERA: 3.00
- WHIP: 1.17
He’s not a flamethrower. He sits around 92 mph with his fastball. But he’s got this changeup-heavy approach that keeps hitters off-balance. In Triple-A Syracuse last year, he put up a 3.09 ERA over 46.2 innings and struck out over 26% of the batters he faced. That’s solid production from a guy who is essentially your 12th or 13th man on the pitching staff.
The Strategy Behind the Minor League Deal
Why do the Mets keep circling back to him? It’s about the "inventory."
The Mets used a staggering 46 different pitchers in 2025. That is a lot of arms. Between injuries, doubleheaders, and those 14-inning marathons that eat your bullpen alive, you need guys who can throw three innings of low-leverage relief without giving up six runs. Herget has proven he can do exactly that.
The Roster Complication
There is one catch with Herget this time around. He’s out of minor league options.
This means if the Mets decide to bring him up to the active roster at any point in 2026, they can’t just send him back down to Syracuse when they need a fresh arm. If they want to move him off the MLB roster, he has to go through waivers. It makes him a slightly less flexible piece than a younger prospect, but his veteran reliability usually outweighs that headache for the front office.
Where He Fits in the 2026 Bullpen
Realistically, Herget is fighting an uphill battle to make the Opening Day roster. The Mets have been active. They landed Devin Williams to lock down the back end and brought in Luke Weaver to bolster the middle innings. With guys like Jorge Polanco and Marcus Semien joining the infield, the team is clearly in "win now" mode.
Herget is the safety net.
If a middle reliever tweaks a hamstring in March or a starter can’t get out of the third inning in a random Tuesday game in May, Herget is the guy you call. He’s a "Paragon Sports International" client who has seen everything the minor leagues can throw at a person. He doesn't get rattled.
Why Mets Fans Should Care
It’s easy to focus on the $126 million deals, but teams lose divisions because they don't have enough Kevin Hergets. Think about those "punishment innings" in a blowout loss. You don't want to waste your high-leverage guys when you're down by six. You want a guy like Herget who can eat those innings, save the rest of the pen, and maybe—just maybe—keep the game close enough for a comeback.
He’s a New Jersey native, too. There’s always something nice about a local guy playing for the home team, even if it’s mostly at the Triple-A level.
What's Next for the Mets?
While the Herget signing is a small piece of the puzzle, it shows that the front office is still looking to fill every possible hole. They’ve addressed the infield with Bichette and the bullpen with Williams, but the rotation still feels a little thin.
Expect more of these "minor" moves as we head toward February. The Mets are building a roster designed to survive the attrition of a long season, not just a flashy Opening Day lineup.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season:
- Watch the Spring Stats: Keep an eye on Herget's walk rate in Port St. Lucie. If he stays under 6% like he did in the minors last year, he’ll be the first call-up when an injury hits.
- Monitor Waiver Wire Moves: Because he's out of options, the Mets might try to "hide" him in Triple-A as long as possible. If another team gets desperate for pitching in April, they might try to snag him.
- Manage Expectations: Don't expect Herget to be a high-leverage setup man. His value is in his versatility and his ability to throw multiple innings in a single outing.
The Mets are clearly betting on experience and stability for their depth. Re-signing Herget isn't going to change the betting odds for the World Series, but it might just save a few games in the dog days of August.