When the New York Mets signed A.J. Minter last winter, they looked to be adding a dynamic left-handed setup man, and for a little bit, that's exactly what they received.
Minter began the 2025 season with a 1.64 ERA and 31.8% strikeout rate over his first 11 innings of the season. But after that first month of dominance, Minter went down. A severe lat tear would knock Minter out of commission and ultimately end his season.
The bullpen suffered as a result. By the trade deadline, David Stearns had to revamp the setup staff, trading for Tyler Rogers and Gregory Soto, but wishing he had Minter available for the stretch run.