The Mets are making moves again, and this time it’s all about shoring up the infield! As spring training looms, the team has been busy adding pieces, and their latest acquisition signals a strategic shift. Just recently, the Mets brought in Vidal Bruján, a versatile player acquired from the Twins in exchange for cash considerations on Thursday night. This move was swiftly followed by another roster adjustment: veteran left-handed pitcher Richard Lovelady was designated for assignment to clear space for Bruján on the team’s 40-man roster.
Bruján, who will be 28 years old before spring training kicks off, is heading into his sixth Major League season. While he’s capable of playing all over the field, his primary expertise lies in the infield. Throughout his five MLB seasons, this switch-hitter has accumulated a career batting average of .199 over 645 plate appearances. In 2025, he played in 60 games for the Cubs, Orioles, and Braves, hitting .253 without any home runs.
Now, here's where it gets interesting: Bruján's spot on the Mets isn't necessarily guaranteed. The team's president of baseball operations, David Stearns, has been quite clear about his intention to continuously upgrade the roster, even after a recent wave of new players. This means Bruján could be expendable if the Mets manage to bring in other more established players before or during spring training.
But here's the part most people miss: depending on how the rest of the offseason unfolds, Bruján could actually carve out a valuable role on the Mets' bench, particularly as a defensive substitution. The team does have a surplus of infielders, but their depth took a recent hit when Luisangel Acuña was traded to the White Sox as part of the Luis Robert Jr. deal. While Ronny Mauricio is another backup infield option, the Mets also have the flexibility to send him to Triple-A to start the year using his minor-league option.
Meanwhile, this marks the fourth time in the last eight months that Lovelady has been designated for assignment by the Mets. He experienced this designation and subsequent reassignment to Triple-A on three separate occasions during the regular season. He then rejoined the club in October after concluding the year within the organization. In 2025, Lovelady posted a 6.30 ERA in eight outings with the big-league club, but showed much better performance in Triple-A Syracuse, with a 2.08 ERA across 16 appearances.
What do you think about these roster moves? Are these the right steps for the Mets as they prepare for the upcoming season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
