PORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets are reuniting with a flamethrower from their bullpen with an eye toward next season.
Drew Smith, who is expected to miss most (if not all) of this season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, has reached agreement with the team on a one-year contract that contains a club option for 2026, an industry source confirmed.
Smith’s deal will pay him $1 million for this season. If the Mets pick up his option, the contract will be worth an additional $2 million.
Drew Smith Robert Sabo for NY PostThe longest-tenured Mets hurler — he arrived in the 2017 trade that sent Lucas Duda to the Rays — Smith, 31, pitched to a 3.06 ERA in 19 appearances for the team last season before he was shut down with elbow discomfort. Smith underwent Tommy John surgery with an internal brace on July 13.
“He is a guy that, when healthy, takes the ball,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “It was sad that he went down the way he went down, but he means a lot to the guys in that locker room.”
Smith also missed the 2019 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
MLB.com first reported Smith’s new agreement with the Mets.
Clay Holmes threw three innings of live batting practice to complete the Mets’ first official workout of the spring for pitchers and catchers.
Mets pitcher Clay Holmes throws live batting practice at Spring Training. Corey Sipkin for the NY POSTThe right-hander has been working out at the team complex since mid-January, putting him ahead of the other pitchers in camp as he transitions from reliever to starter.
“The fact that on Day 1 [of workouts] he’s already at three [innings], that’s pretty impressive,” Mendoza said. “You have got to give him credit because that shows all the work that he did.”
Mendoza’s goal is to get “four or five” appearances for A.J. Minter in games this spring if he’s going to be ready to start the season with the club.
The lefty reliever, who is returning from hip surgery, threw at “medium volume” from a mound during workouts, but won’t begin ramping up in his sessions until later in the month, according to Mendoza.
Christian Scott was placed on the 60-day injured list to create space on the 40-man roster for Pete Alonso.
The right-hander Scott, who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, won’t pitch this season, according to president of baseball operations David Stearns.
