The New York Mets have added some left-handed relief depth to their organization, signing pitcher Cionel Pérez to a minor league contract on May 6—just two days after he was released by division rival Washington Nationals. For a team that has been leaning heavily on its bullpen, this move brings in an experienced arm with plenty of big league mileage.
Pérez, 30, had a tough start to the season with the Nationals, posting a 6.19 ERA and a 2-3 record across 16 relief appearances before being outrighted on May 2. He elected free agency two days later, and now he’s heading to Queens to try to earn a spot in the Mets’ system. Over 273 career games with the Nationals, Baltimore Orioles (2022-25), Cincinnati Reds (2021), and Houston Astros (2018-20), the lefty holds a 17-9 record with a 4.34 ERA—showing he can be effective when things click.
So why the quick pickup? The Mets’ bullpen has been decent so far, with a 3.61 ERA through May 5, but they’ve been logging serious innings. Only six teams have seen more relief work than New York’s 142 innings, and that workload is starting to add up. The team has relied on just three left-handed relievers this season, and two of them—Sean Manaea and David Peterson—are actually converted starters pitching out of the pen. Manaea has thrown 22 innings with a 6.55 ERA, while Peterson has been sharper with 11 innings, a 2.45 ERA, and a 1.00 WHIP. Brooks Raley (1.42 ERA, 0.87 WHIP) is the only true lefty specialist in the mix.
While Manaea is in the second year of a three-year, $75 million contract and isn’t in danger of losing his roster spot if healthy, his struggles raise questions. If he’s dealing with any underlying issues, Pérez provides a seasoned option at Triple-A who can step in quickly. That kind of insurance is valuable for a team with playoff aspirations.
For now, don’t expect Pérez to push Peterson or Raley out—they’ve earned their spots. But with the bullpen getting heavy use, having a veteran like Pérez waiting in the wings could be a smart move. It’s a low-risk addition that gives the Mets more flexibility as the season heats up.