Carl Edwards Jr.'s winding baseball journey is taking another unexpected turn, as the former top prospect has officially parted ways with the New York Mets mid-season. The veteran reliever is now a free agent after clearing waivers, free to sign with any MLB club, according to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo.

Edwards' departure stems from a unique clause in his contract that allowed him to elect free agency rather than accept a demotion to Triple-A Syracuse. After the Mets designated him for assignment last week to clear a spot on the 40-man roster, Edwards exercised his veteran right to refuse the minor league assignment and hit the open market instead.

This decision comes despite some solid recent performances. In two appearances for the Mets, Edwards tossed six innings, allowing just one run while racking up an impressive 11 strikeouts. Even in a Mets bullpen that has seen its share of struggles this season, that kind of production apparently wasn't enough to guarantee his spot.

Edwards' career has been a rollercoaster since his days as a promising starting pitcher prospect in the Chicago Cubs' system. Now exclusively a reliever, the 33-year-old has settled into a journeyman role, with brief stints for both the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels in 2025. His inability to stick with any team for long has become a recurring theme.

There's always a chance Edwards circles back to the Mets if no major league offers materialize, but for now, he's prioritizing an opportunity to stay in the big leagues rather than grind it out in Triple-A. For a pitcher who has traveled so far in his baseball journey, that next stop could be just around the corner.