Checking in on former Mets players in 2025
Are the Mets regretting not re-signing some of the 2024 squad?
Many of us have experienced transition in life, whether it be leaving a job, breaking up with a partner, or moving to a new city. After a big transition in life, it’s natural to get caught up in the here and now, trying to stay afloat financially or making new friends or hitting the dating scene again. Once things slow down, our minds have time to wander back to wondering how things are going where we came from, or who our ex is dating now, or if the company we left is thriving or dying.
The Mets roster of 2024 looked different than the Mets roster of 2025. This year we have the shiny new player in Juan Soto and the excitement of a team doing well (some may argue the success has come in spite of Soto’s contributions, or lack thereof) but we’ve gone through just over a month in the season now, and things are settling in. We hear and see tidbits of our former players as we come across them with their new teams, but let’s take a look and see through the first full month of the season just how well some of our former teammates are doing without us.
Jose Quintana
Starting with the Milwaukee Brewers, Quintana has started 4 games, pitched 23.2 innings and has an ERA of 1.14. He’s given up 19 hits, 3 runs (all earned) and one homer. He has 15 strikeouts, 8 walks, and a WHIP of 1.141.
Quintana didn't start the 2025 season with the major league club because he still needed a full spring training after not signing with the Brewers until March 5th. Since then, he has become the first Brewers starter to win his first four games with the team since 2008 when CC Sabathia accomplished the feat. All of this from a pitcher on a 1-year deal worth $4 million.
Did the Mets make a mistake?
Quintana’s numbers rival Kodai Senga’s on the Mets. How would it feel to have another guy in the rotation with a sub-2 ERA? Pretty good, I’d bet. The Mets should be regretting not giving him an offer to stay in Queens, especially on a contract that is for less than what Griffin Canning is making.
Luis Severino
Starting for the Athletics formerly of Oakland, Severino has started 6 games, pitched 38.2 innings, and has an ERA of 3.49. He’s given up 30 hits, 16 runs (15 earned), 4 homers, and 12 walks. He has 29 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.086.
Comparing Severino’s numbers to his replacement in the starting rotation, Canning, they are pretty similar, with Canning posting a 2.61 ERA, 31 strikeouts, 29 hits, and 14 walks for a WHIP of 1.387 through 31 innings in 6 games started.
Did the Mets make a mistake?
With Canning on a 1-year deal for $4.5 million and putting up the same numbers as Severino is on a 3-year $67 million contract, the Mets are feeling pretty good letting Severino walk out to West Sacramento while we enjoy Canning’s resurgence.
Jorge Lopez
Playing with the Washington Nationals, Lopez is posting a 7.94 ERA through 11.1 innings pitched. He’s given up 10 hits, 10 earned runs, and 4 homers. Lopez has 6 strikeouts, 4 walks, and a WHIP of 1.235. He’s also been ejected and suspended for three games for throwing at the head of Andrew McCutchen during the Pirates series.
Did the Mets make a mistake?
This guy’s bad attitude and worse pitching continue to solidify why the Mets were right to move on from him early in 2024.
Phil Maton
Playing with the St. Louis Cardinals, Maton is posting a 2.63 ERA through 13.2 IP. He’s given up 9 hits, 5 runs (4 earned), no homers. He has 17 strikeouts, 2 walks, and a WHIP of 0.951.
Maton struggled for the Mets in the playoffs last year and became a much-maligned player following his failures after having posted pretty good outings during the regular season. The breakup with Maton was welcomed by most Met fans, but a look at his numbers through the first month of the season and it appears he is doing well. He is pitching better than Ryne Stanek, who has a 3.6 ERA, giving up 9 hits, 5 runs (4 earned) 10 strikeouts, 6 walks for a 1.500 WHIP and two blown saves in the last 2 tries.
Did the Mets make a mistake?
Maton would have added a solid arm to the Mets bullpen. The bullpen has already been a highlight of this year’s team, but adding depth, especially at the top in high-leverage situations, Maton could have succeeded where Stanek has failed. The Mets may have moved on too soon from Maton.
Jose Iglesias
Playing with the San Diego Padres, Iglesias has played in 21 games, amassing 72 plate appearances. He has 18 hits (4xbh), 4 runs, 7 RBI, 2 stolen bases, 3 walks, and 10 strikeouts for a line of .281/.343/.344 (.687 OPS).
He’s been positionally versatile, playing games at 2B, 3B, SS and in the OF. At 2B, where’s he had the majority of his playing time, he’s had 25 putouts, 31 assists, no errors. He does have one throwing error while playing 3B.
Luisangel Acuna was the replacement for Iglesias. He has had 24 putouts, 49 assists and 1 error in 24 games at 2B. Behind the plate, he’s .288/.347/.364 (.711 OPS). Acuna has 11 runs, 2 RBI, 6 stolen bases.
Did the Mets make a mistake?
Acuna struggled early on from behind the plate, while Iglesias was playing quite well for the Padres. As the month continued on, Acuna found his swing and has been the better player through the full first month. The Mets are investing in their future with Acuna, and he’s earned it. The Mets were right to move on.
Harrison Bader
Bader found a home with the Minnesota Twins where he signed for 1 year, $6.25 million with a mutual option for a 2nd year. He has primarily started in LF, but has played all three OF positions to date in his 27 games. In 86 PA he’s had 9 runs, 18 hits (2 doubles and 3 homeruns), 13 RBI and drawn 8 walks while striking out 23 times for a line of .240/.337/.387 (.724 OPS).
He’s been defensively solid with a fielding percentage of 1.000 (56 putouts, 2 assists, no errors). He also was a Met killer in the series between the two teams, going 5-for-7 with 2 RBIs and a stolen base to go along with a few highlight-reel defensive plays.
Bader was directly replaced by Jose Siri, who is now out long-term with a broken leg. In a small sample size, Siri was not even close to competitive offensively, having only 1 hit in 24 plate appearances and drawing 4 walks on his way to posting an abysmal .050/.208/.100 slash line for an OPS of .308.
One could make the argument that his replacement is actually Tyrone Taylor, who in 77 PA has 7 runs, 13 hits (3xbh), 3 RBI, and struck out 18 times for a slash line of .178/.221/.247 for an OPS of .467.
Did the Mets make a mistake?
This will be an unpopular opinion among Mets360 readers, but in my opinion, the Mets were better off bringing Bader back. His contract with the Twins is team friendly, and with Bader, you absolutely know what you’re getting both defensively and at the plate. Siri, who is under team control for longer, is simply not as good. Taylor and Bader both profile as great 4th outfielders, and in a platoon would have given the Mets a lot of flexibility defensively.
Hi Ryan! So you’ve found a soft spot in my heart: I always love these types of “where are they now” posts :). I do agree about Harrison Bader, and wish they had brought him back. Though I’m not sure if he’d be much different than what we are getting out of Taylor or Acuña or anyone else with a bat in the OF. Just on vibes alone, I liked him a lot! That said, the business of baseball is that it’s easy to move on from players. The pitcher I wished we had found a way to keep was Severino, but I’ve learned to trust the process with this new front office… which as a fan for over 40 years… this is new territory for me haha
Nice job Ryan.
I agree with Brian and have no issue not bringing any of these 2024 pieces forward into 2025.
Quintana is 36 years old and only making $500K less than they are paying Canning who is only 28. While Canning has never been a strong pitcher, he is certainly making the most of this opportunity and the hope is he will match the 170 innings he tossed last year for the Angels.
Severino is one that could have stayed here, but at 31, and with a history of injuries, even if he had agreed to 3 years/$60 million as he intimated he would have, it was a big risk to see if he could duplicate last year.
Lopez lost me the moment the threw his glove into the stands. A marginal head case player? No thanks.
Phil Maton was a player I liked and someone who could have helped this team. His assortment of pitches, even without top notch velocity, already made him a favorite over Stanek. At $2 million he would have been a cost effective retention and a reliever at 32 is not as critical an age as an everyday player.
Jose Iglesias was one that I ruminated over not bringing back. He was the OMG injection of life on last year's team and I thought he was the perfect back up all over the infield. Glad he got a $3 million contract from the padres and if he had started there with the Mets, instead of the rumors of an $8 million contract, they might have brought him back. But, with McNeil and Acuna on the roster (was not even counting on Baty), David Stearns made the right move. There was no way OMG was going to carry over, so instead we can be happy with the best record in baseball
Harrison Bader, or as we affectionately called him, "pinky," overstayed his welcome when he stopped hitting the ball. Taylor had a better bat and Siri was better defensively. The Mets are still choking on the $10.5 million they paid him last year, which is more than Taylor and Siri combined. Happy to play McNeil/Taylor in CF, with Nimmo also taking some turns out there. Wish him well though, and happy he is not with the team.