Mets sign veteran lefty to minor league contract

Mets sign veteran lefty to minor league contract
Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

The New York Mets are currently navigating some rough waters, and it’s the bullpen that’s taken the brunt of the storm. Picture a boat springing leaks left and right—Danny Young and A.J. Minter, two dependable lefties, have both been ruled out for the season. With their departure, the team’s left-handed relief options all but vanished overnight.

Faced with the dwindling supply, the Mets first turned to their minor league reserves, trying to patch holes with in-house talent.

But minor league depth is like duct tape—it can hold things together temporarily, but it’s not always a long-term fix. The inevitable next step was to look beyond the organization.

Mets sign veteran lefty to minor league contract
Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

A Small, But Meaningful Acquisition

On Wednesday, the Mets made that move, signing 31-year-old lefty Colin Poche to a minor league contract. It’s not a headline-stealing acquisition, but it’s a smart one, meant to restore some balance to a bullpen that’s been thrown out of whack.

The Mets have signed LHP Colin Poche to a minor league contract.

Poche, 31, pitched for the Nationals earlier this season and pitched for the Rays from 2019-2024, missing the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

Poche will report to Triple-A Syracuse. pic.twitter.com/YCXtqDHgpy

https://twitter.com/SNY_Mets/status/1920194665371828694?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1920194665371828694%7Ctwgr%5E7a4318c0ef8a9253e83c99e1d8569f5be049be90%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fempiresportsmedia.com%2Fnew-york-mets%2Fmets-sign-veteran-lefty-to-minor-league-contract%2F

Poche most recently suited up for the Washington Nationals, though “suited up” might be putting it kindly. His 2025 stint in D.C. didn’t exactly go as planned: an 11.42 ERA, a bloated 2.54 WHIP, and a 10-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 8.2 innings tells the story of a pitcher searching for his groove. The Nationals designated him for assignment, and once he elected free agency, the Mets pounced.

A Cheap Flier

There’s still reason to believe Poche can be more than just a warm arm in Triple-A Syracuse. His time with the Tampa Bay Rays offers a better glimpse of what he’s capable of. Poche has been a steady contributor, amassing a career 3.94 ERA. That’s not elite, but it’s solid, especially in today’s bullpen economy where consistency is often half the battle.

Mets sign veteran lefty to minor league contract
Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images

Poche isn’t just some flyer, either. He brings experience and a lefty’s perspective that the Mets desperately need. If he can steady the ship in Syracuse, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him jogging out of the bullpen at Citi Field before long.

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