Unfortunately, the Mets look like they will be sellers this deadline and it is expected at least all of their rentals will be moved. Brooks Raley, as a left-handed leverage reliever, may be one of their most valuable assets.

Brooks Raley

Position: Reliever

Bats/Throws: L/L

Age: 38 (June 29, 1988)

2026 Traditional Stats: 40 G, 35.2 IP, 2.02 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 0 S, 27 H, 37 SO, 14 BB

2026 Advanced Stats: 208 ERA+, 24.7 K%, 9.3% BB%, 3.64 xERA, 3.18 FIP, 4.05 xFIP, 1.2 bWAR, 0.7 fWAR

Contract Status: Free Agent, $5 million 2026 contract

David Frerker-Imagn Images

Rundown

Raley has been with the Mets since 2023 and has been a consistent force whenever he is on the mound. Across 123 innings in Queens, he has a 2.34 ERA and 1.098 WHIP. He continues to strike out a shade under ten batters per nine. He excels at limiting hard contact with a 32.3% hard-hit rate (86th percentile), 5.2% barrel rate (84th percentile) and 87.5 mph average exit velocity against (74th percentile). He pitches well against both left-handed and right-handed hitters.

Raley’s best pitch is his sweeper, which generates an 33.7% chase rate. He is able to generate up to 35 inches of horizontal break and it has a plus spin rate of 2902 rpm. He pairs this with a high-spin cutter that plays up even at a lower velocity of 86.4 miles per hour. That pitch generates a 35.9% whiff rate. He has a sinker and a changeup that he can pair to generate ground balls when needed.

POTENTIAL LANDING SPOTS

Left-handed leverage relievers tend to bring back good returns at the deadline because they’re somewhat rare.

Some examples of recent trades include:

None of the players acquired in these trades were top-100 prospects at the time of the trade, but most were considered “helium” prospects, raising their stock.

1. Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays currently have the worst left-handed reliever ERA at 5.96. Mason Fluharty is the only left-handed reliever that’s thrown 18 innings for the Jays this season and he has a 4.83 ERA, though his underlying metrics are better than that. If they want to compete, they need to be able to get left-handed hitters out. Would they consider trading right-handed pitcher Nolan Perry, who should be in Double-A soon? Or maybe the Mets would want someone they could call up immediately like Charles McAdoo, who has great contact skills and good power metrics.

2. Tampa Bay Rays

Would the Rays want a reunion with Raley to pair with Cleavinger? This would allow them to shift Ian Seymour into a lower leverage role. He has looked better recently, but the Rays would probably rather a more established arm in that spot as they look to win the AL East. Would the Rays be willing to part with RHP Michael Forret, who was recently called up to Triple-A? Or maybe the Mets want a higher ceiling prospect and go for a younger player like SS Andreimi Antunez.

3. Pittsburgh Pirates

Last offseason, the Pirates brought in Gregory Soto and Mason Montgomery to be their left-handed leverage relievers, and both have been uneven at best. Their best performance has come from 29-year-old Evan Sisk, but he is approaching his career high in innings and is currently on the IL with left elbow inflammation. Perhaps the club would be willing to part with someone like Khristian Curtis, who just reached Triple-A on the back of his new cutter.