The Mets have agreed to a minor league deal with right-hander Adbert Alzolay, Will Sammon of The Athletic reported Friday evening. The contract is for two years, as Alzolay will spend most (if not all) of the 2025 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent over the summer.
Alzolay came up to the majors as a starter, but the Cubs shifted him to the bullpen in 2022, and in 2023, he became the team’s closer. Alzolay finished 2023 with a strong 2.67 ERA and 22 saves to go along with 67 strikeouts against 13 walks, while only allowing five homers in 64 innings. However, Alzolay struggled out of the gate in 2024, blowing four of his first seven save opportunities before losing the closer’s role. At the time he was placed on the injured list in May, he had a 4.67 ERA and had given up six homers in 17 1/3 innings. Chicago non-tendered him following the season.
Alzolay’s best pitch in 2023 was his slider, which he used 45% of the time. The pitch registered a plus-10 run value and a 40.6% whiff rate. He averaged 95.3 miles per hour on both his four-seam fastball and sinker and occasionally mixed in a sweeper and cutter.
