New York Mets sign former Toronto Blue Jays left-handed pitcher
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The New York Mets have signed former Toronto Blue Jays left-handed relief pitcher Richard Lovelady to a big league contract according to Robert Murray of Fansided. He opted out of a minor league deal with the Twins last week.
Free-agent pitcher Richard Lovelady and the New York Mets are in agreement on a major-league contract, sources say. Lovelady recently opted out of a minor-league contract with the Twins.
Lovelady, 29, started the season with the Blue Jays but was designated for assignment after just two appearances.
He cleared waivers, elected free agency and signed a minor league deal with the Minnesota Twins. Since then, he has been putting up good numbers for Triple-A Saint Paul.
The Twins didn't call him up so Lovelady opted out of that deal and became a free agent once again.
The New York Mets obviously see something in the lefty (or are just desperate for left-handed pitching out of the pen) as they signed him to an MLB contract as opposed to the aforementioned minor league contract the Twins signed him to.
He missed 2022 while recovering from Tommy John surgery but posted solid numbers around that.
He logged a combined 44 innings in the 2021 and 2023 seasons with a 4.09 ERA, 26.1% strikeout rate, 8.9% walk rate and 51.8% ground ball rate.
His 2024 was mixed. He had a 7.94 ERA through 5 2/3 innings with the Cubs when he was traded to the Rays.
With Tampa, he had a 3.77 ERA in 28 2/3 innings but with a diminished 16.8% strikeout rate.
The Rays non-tendered him at the end of the year. He landed a minor league deal with the Jays coming into this year and made the Opening Day roster but held onto that spot for just a few days.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 23 | 129 ANSWERS New York Mets sign former Toronto Blue Jays left-handed pitcher Will Richard Lovelady bounce back with the Mets or is he bound to be DFA'd once again? | ||
| Bounce back | 18 | 14 % |
| DFA City | 74 | 57.4 % |
| Too early to tell | 37 | 28.7 % |
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