Mets Add Bullpen Depth, Claim Right-Hander Jack Anderson Off Waivers

The Mets made another roster move Monday, hours before free agency opened, claiming right-hander Jack Anderson off waivers from the Minnesota Twins. MLB.com's Anthony DiComo was first to report it.

It's a low-cost, low-risk pickup, the kind of move good front offices make every winter. New York had a single open spot on its 40-man roster, so no corresponding move was needed to bring Anderson in.

Who is Jack Anderson?

Anderson, a Tampa native, turns 27 later this month. His 2026 was a busy one. Before the season he pitched for Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic. He opened the year in Boston's system and made his big-league debut in April, striking out four over three innings. The Red Sox later removed him from the roster, Minnesota claimed him in July, and the Twins moved him between Triple-A and the majors the rest of the way.

This is the second time this year a club has claimed him off waivers. That says something: teams keep seeing something they like.

The numbers

The sample is small, but Anderson did his job when called on. Across seven appearances for Boston and Minnesota, he posted a 2.19 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP, with 12 strikeouts against just three walks in 12.1 innings.

His longer minor-league track record is more modest. Over the 2025 and 2026 seasons he threw about 180 innings with a 4.75 ERA, striking out a little over 23% of batters and walking under 7%. The control is real. The question is whether the rest of his arsenal can play consistently against big-league hitters.

How he fits in Queens

Anderson's biggest asset may be his flexibility. He still has minor-league options remaining, so the Mets can stash him at Triple-A Syracuse and call him up when the bullpen needs a fresh arm. He has also started games in the minors, which gives the staff a potential long-relief or bulk-innings option.

Expect him to compete for a depth role in spring training rather than walk into a guaranteed bullpen job. Every contending club needs a handful of these arms across a 162-game season, and the Mets just added one at almost no cost.

A busy Monday

The claim came on the same day the Mets signed infielder Christian Cairo to a one-year major-league deal. Free agency is now open, and the next key date is November 17, when teams must set their 40-man rosters ahead of the Rule 5 Draft. That means the Mets could still shuffle the back end of the roster again.

For now, Anderson gets a fresh start in Queens, and the Mets get a controllable arm with upside.