Mets DFA World Series-Winning Pitcher

May 01, 2026 ,
New York Mets pitcher Carl Edwards Jr. pitches during 2026 game.

The New York Mets designated veteran right-hander Carl Edwards Jr. for assignment, six days after selecting his contract from Triple-A Syracuse and three days after his second and final appearance in a Mets uniform.

Austin Warren has been recalled from Syracuse in a corresponding move, while Eric Wagaman, claimed off waivers from the Twins on Monday, was also reinstated to fill the roster spot vacated by center fielder Luis Robert Jr., who has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a lumbar disc herniation.

Robert joins Francisco Lindor, Jorge Polanco, and Jared Young on the injured list, making Thursday one of the more chaotic roster days of the Mets' already difficult season.

The Edwards DFA is the move that raises eyebrows, because the numbers do not support it.

In two appearances with New York, Edwards allowed just one earned run across six innings while striking out 11 of the 25 batters he faced, a 44 percent strikeout rate that made him one of the more effective relievers the Mets used all month.

The problem is options, or more precisely the lack of them.

Edwards, 34, is out of minor league options, which means the Mets cannot send him down if they need a roster spot without first going through the DFA process.

With a mounting injury list forcing multiple callups simultaneously, the math simply did not work in his favor.

A Career Defined by Cubs Glory and Organizational Shuffling

Edwards was drafted by the Cubs in the 48th round of the 2011 draft, and is one of the longest longshots in modern draft history to build a legitimate big league career.

He spent his best years in Chicago between 2016 and 2019, anchoring one of the better bullpens in the National League with a 2.98 ERA across 66 and a third innings in 2017 and a key role in the Cubs' 2016 World Series championship.

Since leaving Chicago at the 2019 trade deadline, he has spent time with the Padres, Mariners, Braves, Blue Jays, Nationals, Angels, Rangers, and now the Mets, never staying anywhere long enough to recapture the sustained success he found at Wrigley Field.

His best post-Cubs season came in 2022 with Washington, where he posted a 2.76 ERA across 62 innings.

He carries a career 3.56 ERA and 28 percent strikeout rate across 286 big league innings, and his two-appearance sample in New York suggested the arm is still there when he is putting the ball where he wants it.

The Mets have five days to trade him, place him on waivers, or release him.

Given his service time, Edwards can reject an outright assignment to the minors even if he clears waivers, making free agency the most likely outcome if no trade materializes.

At 34 and with the results he showed in his limited time, another team will call.

Photo Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

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