The Mets exercised Raley's $6.5 million option for 2024 on Friday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
The alternative would've been to pay him a $1.25 million buyout, but retaining the southpaw was an easy call on the team's part. Raley had a fine 2023 campaign, posting a 2.80 ERA and 61:25 K:BB over 54.2 innings. He's slated for setup duties in 2024 as Edwin Diaz makes his return from knee surgery.
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Mets' Brooks Raley: Blows save, takes loss
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Raley (0-2) blew the save and took the loss in Tuesday's 7-6 loss against the Royals. He allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits and didn't record a strikeout over one-third of an inning.
After handling ninth-inning duties in the Mets' last three contests, Raley took over in the 10th after Drew Smith was handed the ball for the ninth frame and turned in a scoreless inning. Entering the contest with a two-run lead, Raley was unable to secure the win, allowing back-to-back hits to tie the game before being pulled. With the Mets' closing job seemingly wide open following the departure of David Robertson, Tuesday's outing definitely won't help Raley's chances at earning more save chances.
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Mets' Brooks Raley: Possible waiver wire pickups
Rotowire
Adam Ottavino might have seemed like the obvious choice to take over as closer for the Mets if anything happened to David Robertson. But now something has happened to Robertson -- he's been traded to the Marlins -- and it turns out someone else has gotten the save chances since (two, to be exact). That someone is Raley, a left-hander who was part of the Rays' closing committee last year. Notably, his latest save Sunday came with Ottavino working the eighth. Raley then went on to record all three ninth-inning outs via strikeout. The decision may have to do with practicality more than skill. Ottavino isn't guaranteed to return in 2024 and, thus, may soon follow Robertson out the door. Nonetheless, it appears to be the decision the Mets have made, which makes Raley a prime pickup for saves.
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Mets' Brooks Raley: Collects save No. 2
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Raley picked up the save Sunday against the Nationals. He allowed one walk and struck out three over a scoreless inning.
For the third straight night, Raley was tasked with ninth-inning duties and managed to convert for his second save of the season Sunday. The southpaw looks to have the jump on the closer role following the trade of David Robertson and has turned in three straight scoreless outings for the Mets. Though it's likely Raley will have a short leash considering Adam Ottavino and Drew Smith each saw save opportunities earlier in the year, it appears to be Raley's job to lose. Through 46 appearances (38 innings), Raley boasts a 2.37 ERA and a 43:18 K:BB.
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Mets' Brooks Raley: Collects 15th hold
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Raley struck out the only two batters he faced Friday to record his 15th hold of the season in a loss to the Giants.
The southpaw fired six of eight pitches for strikes as he rung up Casey Schmitt and LaMonte Wade for the final two outs of the seventh inning, but David Robertson coughed up the lead in the eighth. Raley is third in the NL in holds behind Tyler Rogers' 20 and Steven Wilson's 16 despite missing a couple weeks in May with a sore elbow, bolstering that production with a 2.51 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 31:10 K:BB through 28.2 innings.
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Mets' Brooks Raley: Notches first save
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Raley threw a perfect inning to earn a save over Cleveland during the second game of Sunday's doubleheader. He recorded a hold with a scoreless frame during the first game.
Raley needed just five pitches to quickly finish the 2-1 victory Sunday night. He's turned in four shutout frames with a 3:3 K:BB since returning from the injured list May 14. He lowered his ERA to 3.52 with a save and 10 holds across 15.1 innings this season.
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Mets' Brooks Raley: Back from injured list
Rotowire
Raley (elbow) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list Sunday.
The left-hander has been on the shelf with left elbow inflammation since April 29, but he'll rejoin the active roster Sunday after making one rehab appearance with Double-A Binghamton. Raley collected eight holds in 14 outings prior to landing on the shelf and had a 4.76 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 11:1 K:BB over 11.1 innings. He should work as part of the late-inning bridge to David Robertson and Adam Ottavino, who are splitting closing duties.
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Mets' Brooks Raley: Could be back in minimum time
Rotowire
Raley isn't scheduled to undergo an MRI after he was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with left elbow inflammation, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
The Mets believe that Raley isn't dealing with anything more than some minor swelling in his elbow and are optimistic that he'll be ready to return from the IL when first eligible in mid-May. Raley had picked up eight holds through his first 14 relief appearances with the Mets, and while he sports a 4.76 ERA over 11.1 innings, most of his underlying ratios are strong.
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Mets' Brooks Raley: To IL with elbow inflammation
Rotowire
Raley was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with left elbow inflammation.
The move is retroactive to April 28. Raley logged eight holds, one win and zero saves in 14 games this season. Adam Ottavino, who was on the paternity list, was activated in a corresponding move.
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Mets' Brooks Raley: Collects first hold of season
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Raley struck out two in a perfect eighth inning during an Opening Day win over the Marlins to record his first hold of the season.
The Mets' bullpen survived its first test without Edwin Diaz (knee) and passed with flying colors, as Raley, Drew Smith and David Robertson combined to strike out six batters over three scoreless innings in relief of Max Scherzer. Raley was already ticketed for a high-leverage role in his first season with the team as the top lefty in the New York 'pen. He could find his way into a few more save chances in Diaz's absence, although Robertson will likely see the bulk of the ninth-inning work out of the gate.
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Mets' Brooks Raley: Still on track
Rotowire
Raley (hamstring) pitched in a minor-league game rather than a Grapefruit League game Saturday but remains on track for Opening Day, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Raley is dealing with a low-grade left hamstring strain but seems to be progressing well. Previous reports held that he'd pitch for the big-league club this weekend, but the Mets apparently changed plans. His next appearance will come in an intrasquad game Monday. Assuming no setbacks, Raley could see saves as the top lefty in a closer committee in the absence of Edwin Diaz (knee), though David Robertson is presumably ahead of him on the depth chart should the Mets anoint a new dedicated closer.
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Mets' Brooks Raley: On track for Opening Day
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Raley (hamstring) threw a bullpen session Sunday and believes he's on track for Opening Day, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Raley is hoping to get in at least one Grapefruit League game by the end of the week. The left-hander has been out with a left hamstring strain and was forced off the World Baseball Classic roster. Raley could be an option for saves if he is healthy, but he'll need to get in at least a game or two in Florida if he's going to be a part of the Opening Day roster.
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Mets' Brooks Raley: Might be in mix for saves
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Raley (hamstring) and David Robertson are viewed as the primary options for saves for the Mets in the event that Edwin Diaz (knee) is lost for a significant period of time after the closer suffered an injury Wednesday, Andy Martino of SNY.tv reports.
Raley collected six saves for the Rays last season before being traded to the Mets in December. The left-hander was dominant in 2022 against lefties and righties alike, so there aren't platoon split worries. Robertson might be higher in the pecking order given his long history as a closer, but both should be on the radars of mixed-league fantasy managers. Raley is working his way back from a hamstring injury but is expected to be ready to pitch in a game in a few days.
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Mets' Brooks Raley: Plays catch Tuesday
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Raley (hamstring) returned to Mets camp and played catch Tuesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Raley had to pull out of the World Baseball Classic because of a low-grade left hamstring strain, but he's expected to be fine. The lefty won't appear in a game for at least a week, but the Mets anticipate the reliever being ready to roll on Opening Day.
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Mets' Brooks Raley: Expected back Tuesday
Rotowire
Raley (hamstring) is expected back Tuesday for the Mets, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.
Raley was diagnosed with a low grade left hamstring strain Saturday, and the left-hander was forced to withdraw from the American roster for the World Baseball Classic. Even if he misses a few extra days, it appears that this won't be an injury that carries into the regular season.
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Mets' Brooks Raley: Dealing with hamstring strain
Rotowire
Raley was diagnosed with a low-grade left hamstring strain Saturday.
Raley was removed from the American roster for the World Baseball Classic on Friday, but the reason was initially undisclosed. It now looks likely that he could open the season on the injured list, though the Mets have yet to announce a timeline.
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Mets' Brooks Raley: Removed from WBC roster
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Raley was removed from the Team USA roster Friday due to an undisclosed injury, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Raley has been replaced by Aaron Loup for the tournament. The specifics of the injury are unknown at this time.
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Mets' Brooks Raley: Shipped to Mets
Rotowire
The Mets acquired Raley from the Rays on Wednesday in exchange for minor-league pitcher Keyshawn Askew, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Aside from All-Star closer Edwin Diaz, the Mets were lacking in reliable setup options last season, and the team's relief depth became further tested earlier this winter when all of Seth Lugo, Trevor May, Joely Rodriguez and Adam Ottavino became free agents. The addition of Raley thus addresses a major need, as he'll give the Mets a proven left-handed arm to slot in front of Diaz in the late innings. Raley covered 53.2 frames for Tampa Bay in 2022, collecting one win, six saves and 22 holds while pitching to a 2.68 ERA and 0.97 WHIP.
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Rays' Brooks Raley: Rare stumble in loss
Rotowire
Raley (1-2) allowed three earned runs on three hits across one inning to take the loss Wednesday against the Astros.
Raley entered the game with a one-run lead, but he allowed a three-run home run to Kyle Tucker to take the loss. Entering Wednesday's appearance, Raley had turned in 10 consecutive scoreless outings -- spanning 10.2 innings -- while also picking up six holds in that span. Despite the stumble, Raley has been excellent for the Rays this season with a 2.47 ERA and 0.92 WHIP across 51 frames.
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Rays' Brooks Raley: Goes on restricted list
Rotowire
The Rays placed Raley on the restricted list prior to their series in Toronto, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Due to his vaccination status, Raley will miss the Rays' entire four-game set in Toronto before returning to the active roster Friday. The lefty has strung together eight scoreless appearances with 10 strikeouts and one walk dating back to Aug. 20.
