Under-the-radar additions to the New York Mets roster became a running theme in 2024. Jose Iglesias was the prime example of what taking a chance on a veteran could do. David Stearns dipped into that well yet again ahead of the 2025 season. However, no true Iglesias-level player emerged.
Still, there were a few under-the-radar free agent signings who contributed regularly. These three provided the Mets with more than some of the more commonly used players. It’s fair to believe each should have been used a little more in 2025.
1) Rico Garcia
The unlikeliest fan favorite of all from the 2025 season was reliever Rico Garcia. Listed at 5’9 and 201lbs, he was built less like an athlete and more like the fans who pay the bills. Garcia was a minor league signing in the offseason with no real fanfare upon joining the Mets organization. He sat in Syracuse for most of the year. Upon his call up, it didn’t seem to strike a chord with anyone until we began to see the results.
Two shutout innings versus the New York Yankees followed by 2.2 more versus the Baltimore Orioles had fans taking notice. DFA’d and claimed by the Yankees for just one dreadful appearance, he returned to the Mets for a second stint. This one lasted longer than two games with some of the same luck.
Just 12.2 total innings spanning 8 games, Garcia’s time with the Mets came to a close in early August after a bad outing against the San Francisco Giants. He still had a 2.13 ERA at the time. But an overcrowded bullpen following the trade deadline forced the Mets into making a decision. He was claimed by the Baltimore Orioles where he finished off the year. With them, he had a 2.84 ERA.
Garcia’s success was more than run prevention. A terrific 11.4 K/9 and somehow more satisfying 1.4 BB/9 aided in a 0.71 WHIP. He was a gem the Mets failed to buy into and might’ve benefitted from putting their faith in.
