The Mets and Richard Lovelady have broken up again — and this time, it might actually be for real. But with these two, never say never.
New York traded the left-handed reliever to the Washington Nationals for cash considerations on Thursday, marking the fifth time Lovelady has been designated for assignment (DFA’d) solely by the Mets since he first joined the organization last June.
The 30-year-old had cracked the Mets’ roster as the last man in the bullpen out of spring training. He was used mostly in mop-up duty — with the notable exception of a tie game in the 10th inning because of the state of the bullpen, which led to the club’s first loss — and allowed five runs (three earned) in 7⅓ innings.
The Mets opted for an arm they hope is higher octane Saturday, when Lovelady was DFA’d in favor of veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel.
Lovelady’s Mets Timeline: A Never-Ending Carousel
Lovelady’s journey with the Mets has been anything but straightforward. Here’s the full timeline:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| June 2025 | First joined Mets organization |
| Subsequent months | DFA’d four times by Mets (each time clearing waivers and remaining) |
| January 2026 | Pushed off roster, claimed by Washington Nationals |
| March 2026 | Nationals DFA’d Lovelady |
| March 2026 | Mets claimed him back |
| April 2026 | Made Opening Day roster as last bullpen arm |
| April 11, 2026 | DFA’d by Mets to make room for Craig Kimbrel |
| April 16, 2026 | Traded to Nationals for cash considerations |
The transaction history is remarkable for a pitcher with a career 4.50 ERA over parts of five MLB seasons. Lovelady has now been traded or claimed by the Nationals three times in the past four months alone.
Why the Mets Kept Bringing Him Back
Lovelady, 30, is a left-handed specialist who has shown flashes of effectiveness. His career numbers against left-handed hitters (.234 average, .668 OPS) are significantly better than against righties (.281 average, .820 OPS).
He was originally a 2016 fifth-round pick by the Kansas City Royals out of Georgia Southern University. He made his MLB debut with the Royals in 2019 and also spent time with the Atlanta Braves (2022) and Tampa Bay Rays (2023) before landing with the Mets.
Lovelady’s appeal to the Mets was likely threefold:
- Left-handedness – A valuable commodity in any bullpen
- Option flexibility – Ability to shuttle between majors and minors
- Low cost – Not a financial burden to keep on the 40-man roster
But his performance this season — five runs (three earned) in 7⅓ innings, including a critical blown appearance in a tie game — ultimately made him expendable when Kimbrel became available.
The Craig Kimbrel Factor
The Mets’ decision to DFA Lovelady on Saturday was directly tied to their acquisition of veteran closer Craig Kimbrel. The 37-year-old future Hall of Fame candidate signed a one-year deal with the Mets after a strong 2025 season with the Baltimore Orioles (2.89 ERA, 23 saves).
Kimbrel has struggled early in 2026, posting a 6.23 ERA in his first four appearances, but the Mets are betting on his track record and high strikeout rate (career 14.4 K/9) to stabilize a bullpen that entered Thursday with a 4.89 ERA — 24th in MLB.
The Mets’ bullpen has been a sore spot during the team’s eight-game losing streak, which hit a new low after being walloped by the Dodgers on Tuesday night.
The Nationals’ Perspective
For the Nationals, acquiring Lovelady is a low-risk, potentially high-reward move. Washington’s bullpen has its own struggles, ranking 22nd in MLB with a 4.56 ERA.
Lovelady will likely serve as a lefty specialist and mop-up option for a Nationals team that is in the early stages of a rebuild. The cash considerations exchanged are believed to be minimal — typical for a player of Lovelady’s stature.
If Lovelady clears waivers (again) at some point, don’t be surprised if the Mets come calling. Again.
Lovelady’s Career Stats
| Season | Team(s) | IP | ERA | WHIP | K/9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Royals | 12.1 | 6.57 | 1.86 | 8.0 |
| 2021 | Royals | 25.0 | 4.32 | 1.44 | 8.3 |
| 2022 | Royals/Braves | 37.1 | 4.10 | 1.31 | 8.2 |
| 2023 | Rays | 30.0 | 4.20 | 1.33 | 7.8 |
| 2024 | Multiple | 28.0 | 4.18 | 1.29 | 8.1 |
| 2025 | Mets | 15.0 | 3.60 | 1.20 | 8.5 |
| 2026 | Mets | 7.1 | 3.68 | 1.36 | 7.4 |
| Career | — | 155.0 | 4.50 | 1.38 | 8.1 |
Lovelady has never posted a sub-4.00 ERA over a full season, but his ability to eat innings and get lefties out has kept him employed.
What This Means for the Mets’ Bullpen
With Lovelady gone, the Mets’ bullpen depth chart looks like this:
| Role | Player |
|---|---|
| Closer | Craig Kimbrel |
| Setup | Brooks Raley (L), Adam Ottavino |
| Middle | Drew Smith, Trevor Gott, Jeff Brigham |
| Long | Tylor Megill |
| Left specialists | Brooks Raley (only lefty remaining) |
The loss of Lovelady leaves the Mets with just one left-handed reliever (Raley) in an increasingly right-handed-heavy bullpen. That could become an issue against lefty-heavy lineups.
What Happens Next
- Lovelady in Washington: He’ll report to the Nationals’ bullpen immediately. He could see action as soon as this weekend.
- Mets bullpen search: President of baseball operations David Stearns may look for another left-handed arm on the waiver wire or via trade.
- Playoff implications: The Mets (4-10) are already 5.5 games back in the NL East. Every bullpen decision matters as they try to climb out of an early-season hole.
FAQ: Mets Trade Richard Lovelady
Q: Why did the Mets keep DFA’ing Lovelady only to bring him back?
A: Lovelady had minor-league options, allowing the Mets to shuttle him between the majors and minors. Each time they needed a roster spot, he was the most expendable piece.
Q: How many times have the Mets DFA’d Lovelady?
A: Five times since June 2025.
Q: Did the Nationals want him?
A: Yes. Washington claimed him in January, DFA’d him in March, and now has acquired him again via trade.
Q: Who replaced Lovelady on the Mets’ roster?
A: Craig Kimbrel, who signed with the Mets on April 11.
Q: Is this the end of Lovelady’s Mets tenure?
A: Probably — but given the history, never say never.
Q: How are the Mets playing this season?
A: Poorly. They entered Thursday on an eight-game losing streak with a 4-10 record.
