The Mets announced on Nov. 4, 2025 that they acquired 28-year-old RHP Joey Gerber from Tampa Bay for cash considerations. Gerber had been up briefly with the Rays in late 2025, posting a 2.08 ERA in 4.1 innings (2 games). Most of his season was in Triple-A Durham, where despite a tough 6.23 ERA he punched out 54 batters in 43.1 innings. Over his five minor-league seasons, Gerber has 207 strikeouts and a 3.47 ERA in 153.0 innings. In limited MLB action (17 games in 2020 with Seattle and 2 games in 2025), he is 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA in 20.0 career innings. Gerber’s profile, a hard-throwing righty with swing-and-miss stuff but uneven track record, suggests he will fight for a middle-relief role. His ability to miss bats (high K-rate) is a key part of what attracted the Mets, who now have another flamethrower option behind their top arms.
Joey Gerber’s career has been interrupted by injuries (back and elbow surgery), but he has steadily rebuilt himself. After missing 2021–22, he posted a 2.43 ERA across Single-A through Triple-A with the Yankees’ system in 2024, earning a minor-league deal with the Rays. The Mets view him as a “high-ceiling” reliever on a low-cost contract. In fact, analysts note that acquiring Gerber “underscores the Mets’ strategy of seeking potential upside without committing significant resources”. Gerber even has a minor-league option remaining, giving New York roster flexibility if he needs more seasoning.
Lefty Brandon Waddell (31 in June 2025) represents another depth addition, an experienced arm coming off strong overseas performances. In 2025 he appeared in 11 games (one start) for the Mets, working 31.1 innings with a 3.45 ERA, 22 strikeouts and 11 walks. Waddell spent the rest of that year at Triple-A Syracuse (3–9, 5.02 ERA in 75.1 IP). His overall MLB line through 2025 is 22 games (44.0 IP), 0–1 record with a 4.09 ERA and 31 strikeouts. Importantly, Waddell is better known for his success overseas: between 2022–2024 he threw 244⅔ innings in the KBO with a 2.98 ERA (and a 3.12 ERA in 2024 alone). The Mets’ brass believes Waddell’s refined skills from Korea and Taiwan could translate into a useful major-league reliever or swingman.
Waddell’s résumé checks both the “recent performance” and “career stats” boxes. As a minor-league signee (December 2024), he debuted for New York in May 2025 and impressed immediately, tossing 4⅓ scoreless innings in his first outing. Before that, he had only 11 MLB outings (2020–21) with a combined 5.68 ERA in 12⅔ innings. In addition to his KBO dominance, Waddell has sustained minor-league success: in five early-2025 Triple-A starts he posted a 1.54 ERA over 23⅓ innings (with a 21.6% strikeout rate). His strong control and ground-ball tendencies (70.4% GB rate in KBO) are also highlighted by scouting reports. Overall, Waddell gives the Mets a low-risk lefty who can spot-start or lengthen games. He holds a lifetime MLB K/9 of 6.3 (31 SO in 44.0 IP), showing enough missing pitches to complement the bullpen’s arsenal.
Impact on Mets Bullpen and Strategy
Both Gerber and Waddell address key bullpen needs at minimal cost. Gerber adds a hard-throwing righty depth arm to a pen that lost closer Edwin Díaz (opted out) and swingman Reed Garrett (Tommy John surgery) in the offseason. Waddell, a southpaw, joins A.J. Minter and newly-re-signed Brooks Raley to give the 2026 bullpen “two key lefty pieces” something the 2025 club sorely lacked. Lefty depth was a glaring gap last year, and Waddell’s addition helps plug it. In effect, the Mets have used inexpensive moves to fill both sides: Stearns has targeted undervalued arms with strikeout stuff rather than big free-agent dollars. As one analyst noted, the Gerber swap underscores New York’s philosophy of “seeking potential upside without committing significant resources”.
Strategically, these moves fit into the team’s evolving philosophy. General manager David Stearns has repeatedly looked to the international market and old-school scouting: Waddell, for example, drew interest after starring in Korea/Taiwan, and observers say “the Mets must like the changes that Waddell picked up overseas”. Gerber likewise exemplifies a pitcher ripe for Stearns’ “pitching lab” development approach: he carries high strikeout potential (26.7% K-rate at Triple-A in 2025) and still has room to refine his repertoire. Notably, Gerber has a minor-league option, allowing New York to stash him if needed. In sum, the pair of additions buys the Mets flexibility. They gain two experienced arms who can eat innings or join short, high-leverage outings, bolstering a bullpen that aims to navigate injuries and the long season.
The Fan and The Guy’s Review
Fan reaction has been a mix of skepticism and cautious optimism. On Mets message boards and social media, many treated Gerber’s acquisition as a low-stakes depth move. As one Reddit user quipped, the trade was an “inconsequential trade for a depth arm” a shake of the head at what will likely be viewed as a marginal roster filler. Indeed, commentators noted that this type of back-end signing tends to draw “meh” reactions until a player breaks out.
Brandon Waddell’s signing elicited even more chatter, often in humorous vein. Some fans joked that his debut (4.1 scoreless innings) was another victory for New York’s vaunted “pitching lab” of fixer-upper arms. (“Stearns and the Mets pitching lab strike again,” one comment read after Waddell’s strong outing.) Others lobbied to retire his number after that one-day heroics on the mound. Overall sentiment seems cautiously positive, many appreciated that Waddell earned a standing ovation in his first game, but tempered by reality. As one fan noted, these signings are “super cheap” depth moves that fans shouldn’t overreact to.
In summary, the Mets faithful have so far viewed these moves as no-regret depth signings. They have not generated excitement like a big free-agent splash, but many recognize the need to reload the bullpen cheaply. If Gerber finds consistency or Waddell sticks with another scoreless outing, fan sentiment will likely warm. For now, the consensus is that these are modest add-ons intended to bolster the team’s pitching depth without straining the payroll.
Sources: Performance data and contract details are drawn from official Mets press releases and MLB reports, supplemented by analysis from MLB News outlets. Fan reactions come from Mets social media threads (Reddit, etc.).