Mets sign Jerry Blevins to minor league deal

The Mets have signed veteran reliever Jerry Blevins to a minor league deal that would be worth $1.25 million in the majors, according to Bob Nightengale. The contract also includes $750,000 in potential incentives for the 37-year-old lefty.

The Mets first acquired Blevins in 2015 in a trade with Washington for outfielder Matt den Dekker, a trade that worked out exceptionally for the Mets as Blevins became a key part of their bullpen over the following four seasons. Pitching most notably as a one-out lefty specialist, Blevins put up a 118 ERA+ for the Mets from 2015-2018, notching his best season in 2016 with a 145 ERA+ in 42 innings.

Blevins last pitched in 2019 with Atlanta, putting up a 3.90 ERA in 32 innings. San Francisco signed him to a minor league deal in January of 2020, only to release him shortly after spring training. Though Blevins hasn’t pitched in a regular season game in over a year, the Mets currently only hold two lefty relievers on their 40-man roster in Daniel Zamora and career minor leaguer Thomas Szapucki, giving Blevins a potential path to the major league roster.