In a significant move in the baseball world, the New York Mets have announced the completion of a two-year contract worth $22 million with left-handed relief pitcher A.J. Minter. This agreement was reached on Thursday, and it includes the option for Minter to opt out following the conclusion of the 2025 World Series, giving him the opportunity to enter free agency once more.
A.J. Minter, now 31, is recovering from left hip surgery but has previously built a substantial career over eight years in Major League Baseball. Throughout his career, he has played exclusively for the Atlanta Braves, a division rival of the Mets, with a record of 24 wins and 29 losses, accompanied by a 3.28 earned run average and 36 saves over 384 appearances, all of which were in relief roles.
In the past season, Minter’s performance was notable—he finished with a 5-4 record, a 2.62 ERA, and a single save across 39 games. His 34.1 innings pitched included 35 strikeouts against 11 walks before he underwent season-ending surgery in August. The procedure, performed by Dr. Thomas Byrd in Nashville, revealed a torn labrum, a hip impingement, and a femoral lesion, necessitating a microfracture operation.
Minter encountered several injury challenges over the past year, missing time in June due to left hip inflammation and also sidelined for two weeks in July because of left shoulder issues. When fit, he has proven to be a consistent and formidable reliever, achieving 422 strikeouts in 348.2 innings. Notably, he recorded a career-high of 15 saves in 2018 and maintained a total of 10 saves in the 2023 season.
Widely recognized for his contributions, Minter was a pivotal part of the Braves’ bullpen during their 2021 World Series triumph, showcasing impressive postseason stats with a 2.88 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 20 playoff appearances over 25 innings, with a record of 3 wins and 1 loss.
The Mets, after securing starting pitchers earlier in the offseason, including Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas, Griffin Canning, and ex-All-Star closer Clay Holmes, are still resolving issues within their bullpen. Minter’s acquisition now provides manager Carlos Mendoza with a reliable left-handed option for late-game situations, complementing star closer Edwin Díaz—an aspect that was lacking during the previous season when the Mets made an unexpected journey to the National League Championship Series.
Additionally, last week, the Mets signed outfielder and designated hitter Jesse Winker to a one-year contract worth $7.5 million. These recent signings might indicate that the Mets are shifting their focus away from re-signing All-Star slugger Pete Alonso, as owner Steve Cohen and president of baseball operations David Stearns seem to be allocating their resources differently.
Minter’s contract includes a $1 million signing bonus along with a $10 million salary for this season, and he has the potential for an $11 million player option in 2026. He stands to earn various bonuses based on his performance, including $100,000 for being named World Series MVP, $50,000 each for All-Star selections or winning the League Championship Series MVP, and further performance incentives tied to Cy Young Award voting placements.
On the other hand, Winker is also carrying a $1 million signing bonus with a salary of $6.5 million, along with up to $1.5 million in performance-based incentives based on plate appearances. His bonuses are structured to reward participation milestones and achievements such as MVP recognition, All-Star selections, or Silver Slugger awards.
