The Mets have signed left-handed reliever T.J. McFarland to a minor-league deal, according to MMO‘s Mike Mayer.
The 33-year-old appeared in 28 games for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2022, posting a 6.61 ERA (5.32 FIP) in 32.2 innings. He was designated for assignment in August the re-signed to a minor-league deal a couple of weeks later. It was a disappointing season for the lefty, who allowed just 11 earned runs in 38.2 innings the season previous in St. Louis.
McFarland started his career in Baltimore with Buck Showalter as his manager. He ate over 133 innings over his first two seasons, but he struggled to maintain consistency over his 10 seasons in the bigs.
He’ll join a gang of relief prospects for the Mets bullpen, though you’d assume McFarland has an outside shot at the Opening Day roster given he’s off the 40-man roster and on a minor-league deal. Edwin Diaz, Adam Ottavino, David Robertson, Brooks Raley and Drew Smith are sure things. Other arms like John Curtiss, Stephen Nogosek, Stephen Ridings, Tayler Saucedo, Jeff Brigham, Bryce Montes de Oca and Tommy Hunter will have a shot to round out the final couple of spots in the ‘pen.
