PORT ST. LUCIE — Tobias Myers, a right-handed pitcher acquired by the Mets in the January trade for Freddy Peralta, is positioned to become a key contributor in the team’s long relief and spot starting roles during the 2026 season. While not the centerpiece of the trade and currently not a focal point in spring training, Myers is anticipated to address a critical pitching need that the Mets have lacked since 2022.
This role, combining starting and extended relief duties, has been missing since the departure of Trevor Williams, who fulfilled a similar position in recent years.
Addressing the Mets’ Struggle with Pitching Depth and Length
Manager Carlos Mendoza emphasized the importance of players like Myers, noting the Mets’ bullpen challenges during the previous season.
“We had seven closers last year, and it was hard, especially when we weren’t getting length out of our starting pitching,”
Mendoza stated at Clover Park on Saturday.
“So having guys like that is always important.”
Despite a bullpen rich in high-leverage arms last season, the Mets struggled to find pitchers capable of delivering multiple innings consistently. Injuries and usage issues significantly reduced their options in lengthening outings.
Key bullpen arms Max Kranick and Dedniel Nuñez both required Tommy John surgery, sidelining them for extended periods. Additionally, Jose Butto was traded to the San Francisco Giants midseason in exchange for Tyler Rogers. Meanwhile, Reed Garrett, once a reliable multi-inning reliever, faced elbow difficulties worsened by overuse and lengthy warm-up routines, impacting his effectiveness and recovery time.
Other pitchers such as Brandon Waddell, Justin Hagenman, and Chris Devenski shuttled between the Major League roster and Triple-A, as the Mets searched desperately for capable arms that could provide innings during extended relief stints.
These shortages were exacerbated by a starting rotation that logged just 796 innings overall, ranking fourth lowest in Major League Baseball. On average, starters pitched fewer than five innings per game, increasing pressure on the bullpen for longer appearances.
Myers’ Background as a Versatile Starter and Reliever
Tobias Myers, originally drafted out of Winter Haven, Florida, by the Baltimore Orioles in 2016, developed primarily as a starter during his time in the minor leagues. Over his career, he has played for seven different organizations, gaining experience as both a starter and reliever.
While Myers made multiple starts every year, his role last season with the Milwaukee Brewers—the best regular-season team in the league—shifted predominantly toward relief. Of his 22 appearances in 2025, only six were starts. His utilization in diverse situations, spanning high- and low-pressure innings, underscored the Brewers’ trust in his adaptability as a swingman.
Embracing this unpredictable and varied pitching role suits Myers well. He reflected on his mindset:
“I’m comfortable on the mound, so I feel like if you’re starting a game, if you’re relieving, if you’re closing, you’ve still got to get three outs or whatever the case may be,”
he said.
“So for me, I just try to keep it that mentality and keep everything simple.”
Comparison with Trevor Williams’ Previous Role
Trevor Williams filled a similar niche for the Mets in 2022, appearing 30 times, with nine starts and 21 relief outings. He compiled a 3-5 record with a 3.21 ERA and registered one save, including several lengthy relief appearances such as a notable six-inning stint. The Mets kept him stretched out for emergency starting needs, a strategy that proved invaluable during a season when the team won 101 games.
After the 2022 season, the Mets opted not to re-sign Williams. However, as the 2023 season unfolded, injuries and underperformance within the rotation highlighted the void left in long relief, emphasizing the importance of that type of pitching role.
Spring Training Development and Team Plans
In preparation for the 2026 season, the Mets have been managing Myers’ workload carefully. This spring, they plan to stretch him out to 65 pitches before reassessing his stamina and role fit. The organization has expressed confidence that, provided he remains healthy, Myers will be part of their Opening Day roster.
During Saturday’s Grapefruit League game against the Washington Nationals, Myers delivered a solid three-inning performance, throwing 46 pitches, giving up one earned run on two hits, walking one batter, and striking out four.
Besides his pitching role, Myers has focused on improving his splitter, which he recently adjusted by modifying his grip.
“We’re just kind of looking for a little bit more depth to get some more swings and misses,”
Myers said.
“That’s coming along pretty well. It’s been only two weeks on it, so it’s been pretty decent.”
Introduced in the middle of last season, the splitter complements rather than replaces his changeup. By resembling his fastball more closely out of the hand compared to his previous circle-change, it provides a more deceptive pitch. Myers added,
“That’s kind of where the split came from. Then it just happened. The metrics are slightly better than the changeup used to be.”
Potential Contributions and Team Outlook
While Freddy Peralta draws most of the attention in the trade discussions, Myers’ projected impact as a swingman and long reliever offers the Mets vital depth and flexibility. His ability to pitch in multiple roles and deliver length when needed could alleviate the strain on the bullpen and rotation throughout the season.
This role is significant given the Mets’ previous challenges with innings durability, making Myers a candidate to fill a critical void and provide stability for manager Carlos Mendoza’s pitching staff.
Additional Game Updates and Player Adjustments
In Saturday’s game, the Nationals edged the Mets 3-2. Mets infielder Mark Vientos contributed an RBI double, while outfield prospect Nick Morabito also hit an RBI double off former Mets left-hander Richard Lovelady. Brett Baty, a career third baseman who expanded his defensive repertoire by learning second base in 2024, started at first base for the first time in a Grapefruit League game. This opportunity allowed him to gain experience in game situations not easy to replicate in practice.
Baty described his transition:
“I felt like I wanted to go get the ball, because that’s just how I’ve always been at third base — go get the ball. I had to remember [second baseman Marcus Semien] is right behind me, so I need to get my butt to first base… It was a fun challenge out there. No mistakes, but it didn’t look pretty either.”
He is also slated to take reps in right and left field this spring as part of his development into a super utility player.
Meanwhile, right-hander Clay Holmes was set to make a final start on Sunday before leaving to join Team USA for the World Baseball Classic. The Mets’ next game is a home contest against the Houston Astros at Clover Park.
