The New York Mets made a notable move in free agency back in January 2025, landing left-handed pitcher A.J. Minter from the Atlanta Braves with a two-year deal worth $22 million. However, the veteran reliever has encountered significant setbacks since joining the organization, spending far more time sidelined on the injured list than contributing on the active roster.
As the August 3 trade deadline draws closer, conversations around potential deals have largely overlooked Minter. Yet given the Mets’ underwhelming start to the 2026 campaign, he stands out as one of the most probable candidates to be moved out of Queens.
The team has posted a disappointing 23-33 record through May 27, placing them nearer to the basement of the National League than to any realistic wild-card contention spot. In this context, parting ways with the southpaw appears to be a pragmatic choice, especially since several clubs would likely show strong interest in his services when available.
Trading a high-priced arm who has appeared in just 14 games since inking his contract would carry an unmistakable air of misfortune for the Mets. Nevertheless, the move is gaining traction as a logical step forward for a franchise in search of long-term assets.
Minter will hit free agency once the current season concludes. This impending unrestricted status adds extra value for potential suitors who prefer to avoid committing to expensive contracts past the 2026 season, thereby expanding the pool of teams eager to acquire him.
On the positive side, Minter has regained his health. The club activated him from the 60-day injured list on May 26, and he responded with a clean, scoreless inning against the Cincinnati Reds in his first outing of the 2026 season.
That encouraging debut provided a glimpse of what Minter can deliver when fully fit. Prior to this year, he was restricted to only 11 appearances in 2025 because of a latissimus dorsi injury that eventually needed surgery to repair.
Spring training progressed slowly for the pitcher as he worked his way back into game shape. Additional hip issues then pushed his return even further down the calendar. Despite those hurdles, his brief body of work with the Mets shows a solid 1.50 ERA across those 14 outings.
Looking at the bigger picture, Minter owns a 3.22 ERA and a 2.85 FIP dating back to his major-league debut with Atlanta in 2017. While he might not command a massive haul of elite prospects in return, the Mets should not let that possibility stand in the way of improving their future outlook.
New York’s farm system currently lacks depth at the highest levels. The Athletic’s most recent Top 50 prospect rankings, released on May 28, did not feature a single Mets player. MLB Pipeline places just two New York prospects inside its Top 100, but both infielder A.J. Ewing and pitcher Jonah Tong are already on the big-league roster and may soon lose their prospect eligibility.
Given these realities, the Mets appear no more likely to reach the postseason with Minter on the roster than without him. Rather than clinging to a rental player whose best contributions could come for a true contender in October, the organization would be wise to explore deals that bring back promising young talent.
With the deadline approaching and Minter showing signs of returning to form, the coming weeks could prove pivotal.
A well-timed trade might allow the Mets to address their glaring need for depth in the minor leagues while giving a playoff hopeful an experienced left-handed option for the stretch run.
