Mets Cut Ties with Struggling Reliever Sean Reid-Foley

In a surprising move, the New York Mets have released right-handed pitcher Sean Reid-Foley. He’s a player who’s flashed both promise and inconsistency throughout his career.

Reid-Foley joined the Mets in 2021 after a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays. He’d been pitching at Triple-A Syracuse, landing there after clearing waivers unclaimed during spring training.

Despite his potential, injuries and command issues have followed him during his time with the Mets. Those struggles ultimately led to his release.

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Sean Reid-Foley’s Career Journey

Sean Reid-Foley was a highly touted prospect when the Toronto Blue Jays picked him in the second round of the 2014 MLB Draft. He quickly climbed the Blue Jays’ prospect rankings and looked poised to make a real impact in the majors.

His journey shifted in 2021, when Toronto traded him to the Mets as part of the deal that sent Steven Matz north. The Mets also picked up Josh Winckowski and Yennsy Diaz in that trade.

Injuries and Inconsistencies

Reid-Foley’s time with the Mets has been a rollercoaster. He’s shown flashes of brilliance, especially with his strikeout stuff, but injuries and command issues have constantly interrupted his progress.

Over four-plus years, he’s logged just 60 big-league innings and 57 1/3 in the minors. Things really went sideways in 2022, when he had Tommy John surgery and missed over a year.

Post-Tommy John Surgery Performance

When he returned in 2023, Reid-Foley’s fastball was back up, sitting 95-97 mph. He posted a 33.1% strikeout rate and a 13.3% swinging-strike rate in the majors between 2023 and 2024.

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But the command issues didn’t go away. He walked 16.1% of batters over that same stretch.

Triple-A Struggles

In 2025, things haven’t improved at Triple-A Syracuse. His strikeout rate stayed strong at 31.6%, but his walk rate ballooned to 18.4%.

He’s also given up four home runs in just 14 innings, leading to an ugly 8.36 ERA. His fastball velocity dipped a bit too, averaging 93.8 mph this season.

The Decision to Release

The Mets probably let Reid-Foley go because of his persistent command issues and inconsistent performance. He can miss bats and rack up strikeouts, sure, but finding the zone has been a real struggle.

Still, he’s healthy. Just recently, he tossed two shutout innings with three strikeouts and no walks against the Phillies’ top affiliate in Lehigh Valley.

Future Prospects

Now that he’s a free agent, other teams might take a chance on him. With his strikeout ability and flashes of major-league success, he could intrigue clubs looking for bullpen depth.

If he can sort out his command, he’d be controllable for two more years through arbitration. That’s not nothing.

Potential Landing Spots

Some teams might see Reid-Foley as a classic low-risk, high-reward project. He can generate strikeouts, and with some guidance, maybe he finds his groove.

Organizations with strong pitching development programs seem like the obvious fit. Maybe they can help him put it all together.

Teams to Watch

San Francisco Giants: They’ve got a reputation for developing pitchers. Could be a nice landing spot for Reid-Foley.
Tampa Bay Rays: The Rays love taking chances on arms with shaky command and turning them around.
Houston Astros: Their analytics and pitching infrastructure might help Reid-Foley find some consistency.

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Conclusion

Sean Reid-Foley’s release by the Mets ends a wild chapter in his career. It opens the door for something new somewhere else.

He can rack up strikeouts, and honestly, there’s still some upside here if a team is willing to roll the dice. Command? Yeah, that’s been a problem, but maybe with the right coaching, he figures it out and finds his way back to the majors.

For more details on Sean Reid-Foley’s release and career, visit MLB Trade Rumors.

Joe Hughes is the founder of CollegeNetWorth.com, a comprehensive resource on college athletes' earnings potential in the NIL era. Combining his passion for sports with expertise in collegiate athletics, Joe provides valuable insights for athletes, fans, and institutions navigating this new landscape.

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