The New York Mets’ 2026 season ended without a playoff berth, and two familiar depth pieces are now looking for their next opportunity.
Infielder Zack Short elected free agency on Tuesday after finishing the year in the Syracuse system, as did right-hander Kevin Herget, a frequent Mets shuttle reliever, via the MiLB transaction log.
Short’s path this year was typical of a utility player living on the waiver wire.
The 31-year-old Kingston, N.Y., product opened the season on a minor-league deal with the Yankees, was traded to Washington for cash, then moved to Detroit the same way.
The Tigers selected his contract, designated him for assignment, re-signed him, and DFA’d him again. The Mets claimed him in mid-June.
He appeared in a handful of games for New York, including a scoreless inning of mop-up pitching against the Phillies — his first career appearance on the mound.
When Francisco Lindor returned from the injured list, Short was designated for assignment, cleared waivers, and reported to Triple-A.
He was briefly recalled in July, then outrighted again. Because he had been outrighted previously, he had the right to reject assignment and test the market. With the Mets’ year over, he exercised it.
Short’s bat has never carried him. He owns a career .169 average with 15 homers in parts of six big-league seasons, most of them with Detroit. Teams keep bringing him back for glove work at shortstop, second, and third. That profile should still draw minor-league interest this winter.
Herget’s Mets story is even more circular. The Teaneck, N.J., native was claimed by New York after 2024, DFA’d, claimed by Atlanta, elected free agency rather than accept an outright, then signed back with the Mets and was immediately added to the active roster.
He posted a 3.00 ERA in 12 innings for New York in 2025, was DFA’d again in late September, and elected free agency. The Mets re-signed him to a minor-league deal that December.
In 2026, he spent much of the year rehabbing, then was selected in August, threw a scoreless inning against Miami, and was designated the next day. He cleared waivers and returned to Syracuse.
A 39th-round Cardinals pick in 2013, Herget has a 4.13 ERA in limited big-league work and a long, solid Triple-A résumé built on command rather than velocity.
Neither player is a building block. Both are the kind of veterans clubs stash for injuries and September roster expansion. Short’s decision is official. Herget, previously outrighted, can choose the same path if New York does not keep him on the 40-man.
For two players who have already worn several uniforms this decade, the next stop is likely another minor-league contract and another chance to wait for the phone to ring.
