Ron Marinaccio, a former New York Yankees reliever from Toms River, fits well into the New York Mets’ bullpen needs. With a solid performance over parts of three seasons with the Yankees, Marinaccio boasts a career MLB line of 114.2 innings and a 3.22 ERA. While he strikes out 10.8 batters per 9 innings, his 4.8 walks per 9 innings remain a factor as he heads into the 2025 season.
Marinaccio recently became a possible trade target for the Mets after being DFA’d by the Chicago White Sox, who claimed him off waivers last September before releasing him to make room for Martin Perez.
Although not as high-profile as some other trade targets, Marinaccio provides bullpen depth, especially with his remaining minor league option, which the Yankees never utilized.
With the Mets planning a six-man rotation, their bullpen depth will be crucial. Relievers with minor league options, like Marinaccio, could be vital as the team may need to send pitchers like Reed Garrett or Dedniel Nunez to the minors.
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns is expected to make quick moves if better internal options arise.
Marinaccio’s MLB numbers are similar to his Triple-A stats, where he posted a 3.35 ERA with 11.4 strikeouts per 9 innings and 4.3 walks per 9. He also induces softer contact, with an average exit velocity of 86.3 mph and a 33.8% hard-hit rate, both above league averages.
Although more of a fly-ball pitcher, his numbers against major league hitters are impressive: .188/.316/.323.
Given his track record and affordability—he’s not arbitration-eligible yet—Marinaccio is likely to attract trade interest. He could be a valuable addition to teams, even those not in contention, with the Mets potentially acquiring him for a player, rather than just cash, as they did with Yohan Ramirez last year.
