As the New York Mets continue shaping their pitching staff ahead of the 2026 season, the club added veteran relief depth with a right-hander who has spent more than a decade in Major League Baseball bullpens.
The Mets signed Dominican right-handed reliever Luis García to a one-year deal on January 21.
The Mets are signing RHP Luis Garcia to a deal, per @Joelsherman1
Garcia, 38, had a 3.42 ERA in 58 games pitched last season with the Dodgers, Nationals, and Angels, and has a career 4.07 ERA in 603 appearances pic.twitter.com/vdJ7ku70n7
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) January 21, 2026
Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported that the Mets were in agreement, pending García’s physical.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that García will have a one-year, $1.75 million contract, which includes $1.25 million in incentives.
The 38-year-old from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic has played 13 seasons in Major League Baseball with the Philadelphia Phillies from 2013-18, Los Angeles Angels in 2019, 2024, and 2025, Texas Rangers in 2020, St. Louis Cardinals in 2021, San Diego Padres from 2022-23, Los Angeles Angels and Boston Red Sox in 2024, and the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals in 2025.
At the beginning of 2025, García signed with the Dodgers to a minor league contract on February 14 and was assigned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on the same day, prior to being promoted to big league camp on February 21.
García went 1-1 in the 2025 Cactus League season and appeared in seven games out of the bullpen, posting a 4.26 ERA, throwing 6.1 innings, allowing four hits, three earned runs, one home run, one walk, four strikeouts, and a 0.79 WHIP, prior to the Dodgers selecting his contract from Triple-A Oklahoma City on March 17.
During García’s time in Chavez Ravine, he went 2-0, while appearing in 28 games out of the bullpen with a 5.27 ERA, throwing 27.1 innings, allowing 34 hits, 16 earned runs, one home run, 16 walks, 24 strikeouts, and a 1.829 WHIP, before being placed on the 15-day injured list on June 1, 2025 with a right adductor strain.
García was sent on a rehab assignment to Low-A Rancho Cucamonga on June 22, 2025 and made one start, while not allowing an earned run, throwing one inning, allowing one hit, no earned runs, no walks, and one strikeout, before being activated to the Dodgers on June 26, 2025.
A few days later, García was designated for assignment by the Dodgers on June 29, 2025, until he was released on July 4, 2025.
García signed as a free agent with Washington on July 8 and appeared in 10 games out of the bullpen with a 0.90 ERA. In all of his outings he did not record a decision, throwing 10 innings, allowing five hits, one earned run, one home run, two walks, seven strikeouts, and a 0.700 WHIP, before the Nationals traded him on July 30, 2025 with left-handed pitcher Andrew Chafin heading to Southern California in exchange for left-handed pitcher Jake Eder and first baseman Sam Brown going to the nation’s capital.
García finished 2025 with the Angels and appeared in 20 games with a 0-2 record, a 2.00 ERA, and two saves, throwing 18 innings, allowing 16 hits, four earned runs, eight walks, seven strikeouts, and a 1.333 WHIP, prior to electing free agency on November 2, 2025.
García battled injuries in 2025, including a 15-day injured list stint on September 27, 2025.
In García’s 13 MLB seasons, he has a lifetime record of 28-30 with a 4.07 ERA in 603 appearances and four starts, recording 17 saves, throwing 583.1 innings, allowing 572 hits, 264 earned runs, 53 home runs, 257 walks, 547 strikeouts, and a 1.421 WHIP.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, entering his third season, will evaluate his bullpen closely after New York missed the postseason on the final day of the regular season against the Miami Marlins and finished 83-79.
The Mets have Dylan Ross, Richard Lovelady, Huascar Brazobán, Brooks Raley, Joey Gerber, Luke Weaver, and Devin Williams listed on their bullpen depth chart heading into 2026.
New York will play its first game of the 2026 Grapefruit League season against the Marlins at home at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, Fla. at 1:10 p.m. EST on February 21.
The Mets open the 2026 regular season at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 26 at 1:15 p.m. EDT.
Photo: Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Luis Garcia throws during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday, June 17, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
