The Mets made a move on their off day on Monday to add a fresh arm to the bullpen. The team announced they selected the contract of right-hander Justin Garza to join their major league roster and optioned Brandon Waddell to Triple-A Syracuse.
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The Mets initially acquired Garza from the Giants on Saturday for cash considerations. Garza has hit 98 mph on the radar gun in the minor leagues, but the Mets view him as someone who can control the strike zone.
“Good arm,” Carlos Mendoza said over the weekend about Garza. “With the ability to throw strikes… A guy who has options. But he’s a strike thrower.”
Garza last pitched in the major leagues for the Red Sox in 2023 and has struggled this season for Triple-A Sacramento, the Giants affiliate. The 31-year-old has a 6.11 ERA over 17.2 innings, racking up six saves in 2025. His K/9 rate is 10.2 so far this year. He owns a lifetime 5.74 ERA in 38 MLB games, striking out 46 batters and walking 30 in 47 innings of work between Boston in 2023 and Cleveland in 2021.
As for Waddell, he has filled his role nicely thus far for New York, pitching to a 3.38 ERA over 10.2 innings. But with Paul Blackburn returning to the team as a most-of-the-time long man and the lefty being the one of the two with minor-league options, Waddell suffers from the roster crunch.
