Out of all the 2021 Atlanta Braves who have moved on to other teams, losing beloved reliever A.J. Minter to the rival New York Mets might have been one of the toughest to stomach. The lefty got a massive payday from the NL East foe, and for the first month of the season, made the Braves look stupid for letting him walk.
However, after leaving Saturday's game against the Nationals early with an apparent injury, it's starting to look like Atlanta was right not to try and keep him in a Braves uniform.
New York Mets could lose A.J. Minter for season after latest injury
One of the biggest driving factors in the Braves not re-signing Minter this offseason was likely the fact that he was coming off a hip injury that derailed his final season with the club. Minter himself was unsure how well he'd play in the free agent market coming off an injury.
When the Mets swooped in and offered him a two-year, $22 million deal with an opt out after the first season, it was a no-brainer for Minter to take it. Through the first his first 13 games of the season, he looked every bit worth the contract.
In 11 innings, the lefty has a 1.64 ERA and 1.88 FIP, good for a 0.3 fWAR on the season. This is a better mark than any Braves reliever with at least five innings pitched this season, and on a team that is 20th in bullpen ERA, Minter would have really helped out in close games.
Unfortunately for Minter, that mark might just end up being his final line for the 2025 season. The lefty was removed from Saturday's game with a lat injury and placed on the IL. On Tuesday, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said that the injury was "pretty significant" and that he could require season ending surgery.
This is absolutely heartbreaking for Minter, who was starting to look like a steal for the Mets, and unfortunate confirmation for the Braves that they probably right to try and look elsewhere for a reliever, especially with one of their other highest paid relievers on the shelf.