Former Toronto Blue Jays left-handed reliever lands big league deal with New York Mets

Lovelady returns to the Mets after being designated for assignment by the club last week and electing free agency shortly thereafter.

The 29-year-old has pitched in parts of six MLB seasons but has not yet had an extended period of substantial success.

A career 5.35 ERA pitcher in 102 2/3 innings, Lovelady's surrendered six runs in 3 1/3 innings of work with the Blue Jays and Mets this year with four walks and four strikeouts.

It's not an especially inspiring profile, but Lovelady has long been viewed as an intriguing, high-ceiling arm given his quality stuff from the left side.

He's shown flashes of that potential in the past, most recently when he pitched to a 3.77 ERA in 28 2/3 innings of work for the Rays last year.

Making room for Lovelady on the roster is Poche, who is not too far removed from substantial success as a member of the Rays organization himself.

He posted a strong 3.27 ERA in 156 2/3 innings of work for Tampa during the 2022-24 seasons, though he posted pedestrian peripherals in two of those three years.

His 2023 was utterly dominant, as he posted a sterling 2.23 ERA with a 24.8% strikeout rate and a barrel rate of just 5.6%, though he did walk opponents at an elevated 9.8% clip.

Those peripherals regressed last year, however, and the Rays non-tendered him over the offseason as a result.