The Mets have reached an agreement with left-hander Brandon Waddell on a minor league contract, as reported by Robert Murray of FanSided. Initially reported as an MLB deal, Murray later issued a correction, and the deal is now pending a physical.
Waddell is the second former member of the Korea Baseball Organization’s Doosan Bears to join the Mets today. Jared Young, a versatile hitter who hit 10 home runs in 38 games for the Bears late last season, also signed with the Mets on an MLB split deal. Waddell, a 30-year-old left-handed pitcher, played three years with the Bears from 2022-24.
During his time with the Bears, Waddell posted a solid 2.98 ERA over 244 2/3 innings. In the 2022 season, he had a 3.12 ERA in 75 innings, striking out 23.8% of batters while maintaining a low 3.5% walk rate. Unfortunately, his season was cut short by a rotator cuff injury in late June.
The Mets must have seen something they liked in Waddell’s performance, as they are giving him an opportunity to provide depth in the rotation or long relief as a non-roster invitee. This will mark his return to affiliated baseball since his time in Triple-A in the St. Louis system in 2022. Waddell last appeared in the MLB in 2021, playing for four different teams and allowing eight runs in 9 1/3 innings. With 11 career MLB appearances, he holds a 5.37 ERA over parts of four seasons at the Triple-A level.
