Breaking: The Mets and the former Cubs pitcher have agreed to a two-year contract extension. Until 2029
According to Will Sammon of The Athletic, right-handed pitcher Adbert Alzolay has agreed to a two-year minor league contract with the New York Mets. The 29-year-old Alzolay will miss the most of the 2025 season, if not all of it, while he heals from Tommy John surgery that he underwent in August 2024. If his recuperation proceeds as planned, the Mets anticipate having him ready to join their bullpen in 2026.
Alzolay and the Chicago Cubs parted ways in November 2024 because he was not a good fit. His elbow injury, which required surgery, caused his year to end early. He pitched in 18 games in 2024, giving up six home runs in just 17.1 innings while recording a 4.67 ERA and 1.44 WHIP. He also had a rough start to the season, losing his position as the closer after blowing four of his first seven save opportunities.
However, Alzolay was a bright spot for the Cubs in 2023, only a year prior. In 64 innings, he had 22 saves after taking over as their closer. He struck out 9.4 batters per nine innings and had a solid 2.67 ERA at the end of the season. His slider was very noteworthy and stunning. With a 40.6 percent whiff rate and a plus-10 run value, it was extremely difficult for hitters to hit. He has a 4.04 ERA and a 4.30 FIP for his career, having struck out 269 hitters in 254 innings.
Alzolay has seen several highs and lows throughout his career. He started as a pitcher in the Cubs’ rotation for a couple years after making his Major League Baseball debut in 2019. However, they made the wise decision to send him to the bullpen in 2022. In 2023, he had an outstanding first full season as a reliever. Regretfully, he has struggled with injuries. He had a forearm strain in 2023 that hindered the Cubs’ postseason run, and most recently, an elbow injury in 2024 that required Tommy John surgery terminated his season and is probably going to keep him out for most of 2025.
During his six seasons with the Cubs, Alzolay recorded a 1.32 WHIP and a lifetime 4.04 ERA. He didn’t have the finest time as a starter, but things altered when he moved to a relief position. With his slider being his go-to pitch and his fastball averaging 95.3 mph, he had a 2.67 ERA and 3.02 FIP in 2023.
This offseason, the Mets have added a number of pitchers, such as A.J. Minter, Frankie Montas, and Sean Manaea. The long-term goal of Adbert Alzolay’s minor league contract is to position him to support their bullpen in 2026. He may play a significant role in the team’s future ambitions if he fully recovers and stays injury-free.
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