The New York Mets signed free agent reliever Luis Garcia, who was well-traveled last season — including with the Los Angeles Dodgers – on the same day as star infielder Bo Bichette’s unveiling as a Met.
According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Mets signed Garcia to a one-year, $1.75 million deal. His deal included incentives that could raise the value to $3 million.
Most notably, the deal is a major league contract, which means he will take up a spot on the 40-man roster. As a result, the Mets designated for assignment Tsung-Che Cheng, freeing up a place and making the move official after he passed his physical.
News of Garcia signing with the Mets broke around the same time that the team presented their latest offseason addition — prized hitter Bo Bichette.
The Mets were facing a quiet offseason despite missing the playoffs, which caused a good deal of angst among fans. They made other reliever signings in Devin Williams and Luke Weaver, both of whom came from the crosstown Yankees.
However, they were missing a difference-maker who can legitimately excite the fanbase, and Bichette provides that in spades as an electric bat that can help cover the losses of Pete Alonso.
The front office was just getting started with the Bichette deal, netting Garcia on the same day that the new star was introduced, adding depth to the bullpen, which has already gone through an overhaul.
How does Luis Garcia fit on the Mets?
Garcia is a longtime major league pitcher, well-traveled throughout the league, but at 39, he is still trending up and playing better than he did earlier in his career.
He has a 3.86 ERA since 2021, along with a 3.45 FIP. In 2025 alone, he had a 3.42 ERA while playing for the Dodgers, Washington Nationals, and the Los Angeles Angels.
The Mets lost star closer Edwin Diaz and two trade deadline pick-ups in Ryan Helsley and Tyler Rodgers, but the additions of Williams and Weaver should offset their losses to a certain degree, while Garcia should provide solid middle-inning relief as a reliable arm.
He was worth 0.8 bWAR, an impressive total for a reliever, and if he can provide similar production, the Mets could have a bargain on their hands.
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