2024 Mets Report Card: Reed Garrett, RP

Reed Garrett

Player Data: Age: 31 (01/2/1993), B/T: R/R

Traditional Stats: 53 GS, 8-5, 57 1/3 IP, 3.77 ERA, 1.395 WHIP, 83 SO, 30 BB
Advanced Stats: 105 ERA+, 33.6% SO%, 12.2% BB%, 3.13 xERA, 3.31 FIP, 3.16 xFIP, 0.9 fWAR, 0.2 bWAR

2024 Salary: $740,000

Grade: B

2024 Review

Where would the New York Mets’ bullpen of been in 2024 if it wasn’t for the emergence of right-handed reliever Reed Garrett?

After beginning his professional career within the Washington Nationals’ organization, Garrett was designated for assignment in 2022 and elected free agency before signing with the Baltimore Orioles in 2023. The Mets claimed the 31-year-old off waivers from Baltimore during the 2023 season, despite his major-league ERA being over 7.00 at the time. Garrett ended 2023 posting a 5.82 ERA over 17 innings with the Mets.

With zero expectations entering 2024, Garrett quickly seized an opportunity created by injury and underperformance by others slated to be apart of the bullpen. To begin the 2024 campaign, Garrett allowed only one run over his first 14 appearances.

He parlayed this hot start, 0.57 ERA across 15 2/3 innings in April and May, into a season where he threw the most innings of anyone in the Mets’ bullpen (excluding anyone who started a game). His overall traditional numbers were good too; 3.77 ERA across 57 1/3 innings with 83 strikeouts. Given what the expectations were, Garrett was a godsend for the Mets in 2024.

Of course, it was not all perfect for the 31-year-old reliever. After performing so well for so long, all the inning caught up with Garrett as his season ERA spike to an at the time season-high 3.64 before heading to the injured list with an inflamed right elbow in early July. He had been trending poorly, after posting a 6.08 ERA in May, before reeling it back in June, then losing it once again prior to his elbow issue.

Garrett ended up missing a month, not returning until August, and was uneven in his return, posting a 4.50 ERA in the month. He figured it out in September and October to end the regular season though, posting a 3.60 ERA across his final 9 1/3 regular season innings. In the postseason, Garrett was uneven in two appearances against the Dodgers, but was scoreless otherwise, across his five other appearances.

The overall analytics were also very kind to Garrett. Garrett’s xERA and xBA both ranked above the league’s 86th percentile. He induced a ton of whiffs (97th percentile) and got a lot of chases (88th percentile) resulting in a strikeout rate of 33.6% which was one of the best in the major leagues (96th percentile).

When the opposition did make contact against Garrett, it usually was not hard. He owned a minuscule home run rate against of 2.4% which is well below the 3.2% major-league average. Additionally, the batted ball profile against Garrett was tremendous. He allowed an exit average velocity that ranked in the 81st percentile and had a hard-hit rate that was in the 64th percentile.

So, why did Garrett struggle at points despite all the numbers indicating he struck batters out at a terrific rate and often gave up soft contact? He had major control issues at points. His 12.2% walk rate was well above the 8.5% major-league average and was good for the league’s seventh percentile. Another potential reason was simply fatigue. 2024 was Garrett’s most strenuous season in terms of inning count since 2021. At one point, it seemed he was pitching every night, and sometimes multiple innings, likely culminating in that injured-list stint in July.

Overall, it was a tremendous breakout season for the 31-year-old reliever. Led by his elite splitter (.125 xBA in 2024) and new-found sweeper (.155 xBA in 2024), he emerged as a premier arm in the Mets’ bullpen.

2025 Overview

With minimal major-league service time, the 31-year-old Garrett is still under team control through 2029. He also is not eligible for arbitration until 2026. If he keeps performing like he did in 2024, he will be with the Mets for the long haul at an extremely reasonable price tag.

As for what his spot may be on the roster, he projects as middle-leverage reliever in 2025. If he can replicate his success in 2024, he can be one of the better middle-leverage relievers, with high-leverage upside, in the league. It certainly is possible that Garrett can even take a greater leap forward in 2025, if he is able to iron out those control issues and reel in the walk rate.

Of course, there is also an avenue where he is unable to do so, and we see some regression to the type of pitcher he was up until his breakout season. However, if this happens, the Mets do not have any major resources allocated to Garrett and he does have options, so he can be sent to the minors without being placed on waivers.

Regardless, it was an extremely encouraging 2024 for the breakout bullpen arm who should be a large factor for the team in 2025.

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