Two Mets pitchers are dealing with important long-term accidents, as The Athletic’s Tim Britton studies that Tommy John surgical procedure has been really helpful for each Tylor Megill and Reed Garrett. Each right-handers are contemplating their choices earlier than committing to the TJ process, plus Garrett already has one other surgical procedure awaiting within the type of a deliberate process to maneuver a nerve in his proper arm.
The 30-year-old Megill final pitched on June 14, as he was sidelined by an elbow sprain that (in line with the pitcher) didn’t include any structural harm on the time. Nonetheless, Megill’s rehab project was shut down resulting from some renewed elbow discomfort throughout a Triple-A begin on September 7, and the newest set of assessments has apparently delivered the unwelcome information of UCL harm.
Garrett has been battling elbow points for over a month, as he missed two weeks (spanning the tip of August and begin of September) resulting from elbow irritation. That minimal IL stint didn’t appear to be trigger for concern till yesterday, when Garrett was returned to the 15-day IL with a sprain in his throwing elbow.
Britton writes that Garrett might go for a PRP injection after which see if that is sufficient to heal his elbow, but the nerve surgical procedure and the hooked up four-month restoration interval are further obstacles. If Garrett bought a Tommy John surgical procedure comparatively quickly, he would very seemingly be able to go by Opening Day 2027. If he goes the PRP route, he wouldn’t be capable to get the shot till after he’s totally recovered from the nerve process, so there’s a threat that Garrett would find yourself losing lots of restoration time if he ended up needing a TJ surgical procedure anyway. Garrett turns 33 in January, including to the ticking-clock nature of what an prolonged absence means for his profession as a complete.
On the very least, the 2025 season at a minimal is over for each pitchers. That already considerably appeared just like the case anyway given Megill’s setback after a prolonged absence and Garrett’s late-season elbow sprain, but now even the faint hope of a return within the occasion of a deep Mets playoff run has been squashed. It leaves the pitching-needy Mets with much more questions to deal with about their arms depth if New York even makes it into the postseason, however the bigger-picture situation is clearly the unlucky risk that Megill and Garrett will each miss your complete 2026 marketing campaign.
Megill has primarily pitched as a starter over his 5 MLB seasons (all with the Mets), however he has been deployed extra as a back-end rotation arm or perhaps a fill-in reasonably than a really steady member of the rotation. Megill has usually executed nicely when given the chance, and he took a step ahead in 2025 by posting a 3.95 ERA over 14 begins and 68 1/3 innings. His 10.8% stroll price is on the excessive aspect, however Megill’s 29.2% strikeout price was a profession finest, and he additionally had very robust whiff and barrel charges.
2025 can also be Garrett’s fifth Main League season, although he additionally spent the 2020-21 seasons pitching in Japan. Garrett joined the Mets on a waiver declare from the Orioles in 2023, after which lastly carved out a foothold for himself within the majors as a workhorse member of New York’s bullpen. Since Opening Day 2024, Garrett has a 3.83 ERA in 111 appearances and 112 2/3 innings for the Amazins, with a 30.3% strikeout price and 11.5% stroll price. Aside from the management points, Garrett has been a reasonably steady member of a Mets bullpen that has appeared to be in fixed flux.
Megill is in his first 12 months of arbitration eligibility, and is taking part in on a $1.975MM wage in 2025. Garrett is simply arb-eligible for the primary time this coming offseason, and as a non-closing aid pitcher, would have been in line for a reasonably modest assured wage in 2026. Between these low salaries and the great numbers the duo have posted of their time in Queens, the Mets will in all probability nonetheless tender each pitchers contracts even within the occasion that they endure TJ surgical procedures, because the group will nonetheless have management when each are (presumably) wholesome in 2027.
