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New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns made a minor move to begin his fourth offseason at the helm, re-signing right-handed pitcher Robert Stock to a one-year split contract, as first reported by USA Today's Bob Nightengale. The transaction is unlikely to significantly alter public perception of Stearns, who drew criticism last offseason for his reluctance to invest long-term in beloved first baseman Pete Alonso.
Stock, who will turn 37 later this month, recorded a 5.93 ERA with 29 strikeouts and a .297 batting average against in 30 1/3 innings last season. Despite those struggles, the veteran hurler occupied a spot in the Mets' starting rotation during the final stretch of the year and demonstrated glimpses of impressive form.
The 2009 second-round draft pick tossed 5 1/3 shutout innings against the Tampa Bay Rays on Aug. 31, logged another quality start versus the Miami Marlins, and delivered adequate 4 1/3-inning outings against the San Diego Padres and Washington Nationals. However, he also surrendered a combined 15 runs to the Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates in the same month and walked 10.2 percent of the batters he faced in 2026.
Key Analysis
Stearns' decision to bring Stock back on a split deal reflects a low-risk approach as the Mets look to rebuild a bullpen that was dismantled ahead of the trade deadline. The team is heavily reliant on homegrown arms such as Nolan McLean, Christian Scott, Zac Thornton, and Jonah Tong, but will need to uncover hidden gems like Stock to bolster depth. While expecting an aging and struggling pitcher to contribute to a turnaround may be wishful thinking, Stock's brief flashes of effectiveness suggest the move could still yield positive results.
Stearns, who helped lay a significant part of the Milwaukee Brewers' foundation—the same franchise that recently captured its first-ever World Series title—now faces the challenge of making a similar impact in Flushing. For now, fans will have more time to evaluate whether Stock can fulfill that criteria.
Originally reported by yahoo.