The Mets are getting real value in the late innings from their spending on Devin Williams and Luke Weaver. So far, the results have matched the money, and the bullpen has given them the kind of steady back end teams pay for.
That makes Raley the clearest bargain in the group. The left-hander, who returned in 2025 from Tommy John surgery, posted a 2.45 ERA over 25.1 innings after the injury cut short his 2024 season. He allowed 14 hits, walked 6 and struck out 25, then opened the current season with 4.2 scoreless innings, giving up 2 hits and striking out 7. The Mets rewarded that work with a $4.75 million club option.
The numbers show why he fits the picture. Left-handed hitters managed only a.103 average and a.138 slugging percentage against Raley in 2025, while right-handed hitters hit.177 with a.242 slugging percentage. Nearly 25% of his innings came in high-leverage spots, which is where teams need relief money to matter most.
That is the standard the Mets have chosen for this part of the roster. Tanner Scott is making $18 million a year, A.J. Minter is making $11 million a year, Gregory Soto is making $7.75 million a year, Aroldis Chapman is making $13.3 million a year and Steven Matz signed for $7.5 million annually. Against that market, the Mets committed $17 million to Williams and handed real dollars to Weaver as well, expecting the late innings to look cleaner because of it.
The tension is that relief pitching can vanish fast, and the difference between paying for leverage and getting it can be a single bad month. Right now, though, the Mets are cashing in on production instead of hoping for it, and Raley is the one giving them the best return for the least money.
