New York Mets left-handed pitcher A.J. Minter (hip) faced live hitters during his bullpen session on Sunday. This was his first time throwing against live hitters since undergoing hip surgery last August. Earlier in the offseason, Minter signed a two-year contract worth $22 million with the New York Mets. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progression as he could be cleared in time for Opening Day if he continues this current pace. Before being shut down last season, the southpaw held a 2.62 ERA with a 1.02 WHIP across 34 1/3 innings of work. He tallied 35 punchouts and added nine holds. From 2021 through 2023, Minter tallied at least 20 holds in each season operating as the set up man in Atlanta. When healthy, fantasy managers should expect Minter to have a similar role in Queens, operating as the eighth inning option in front of Edwin Diaz. He should be in line to tally double-digit holds, pitching on a competing Mets roster.
New York Mets left-handed reliever A.J. Minter (hip), who is recovering from surgery on his labrum, isn't a lock to be ready for Opening Day in late March, but the Mets are optimistic he'll be with the team then. When healthy, the Mets are expecting Minter to be a key left-handed, high-leverage setup man in the late innings in front of closer Edwin Diaz after signing him to a two-year, $22 million deal last month. The 31-year-old southpaw is scheduled to throw his first bullpen of spring training later this month after he had surgery last August. He made 39 relief appearances in his eighth and final season with the Atlanta Braves in 2024 before needing surgery and was reliable with a 2.62 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, one save, 35 strikeouts and 11 walks in 34 1/3 innings. Minter might be eased in early on, but if healthy, he could be a nice source of K's and holds in fantasy leagues.
The New York Mets agreed with free-agent left-handed reliever A.J. Minter (hip) on a two-year deal worth $22 million on Friday, pending a physical. Minter was moved to the 60-day injured list in August of last year and missed the rest of the 2024 season due to a hip injury. The 31-year-old southpaw was a former second-round selection by the Atlanta Braves in 2015 out of Texas A&M and made his big-league debut with the Braves back in 2017. All eight of his major-league campaigns came in Atlanta and he's posted a 3.28 career ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 36 saves, 422 strikeouts and 123 walks in his 348 2/3 innings pitched. In New York, he'll boost the Mets' bullpen as an experienced left-handed setup arm in high-leverage positions, but he's not going to see many, if any at all, save chances as long as closer Edwin Diaz stays healthy.
According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, the Boston Red Sox have had multiple discussions with left-handed relief pitcher A.J. Minter. Minter has spent his entire eight-year MLB career with the Atlanta Braves. Last season, the southpaw logged 34 1/3 innings with a 2.62 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. Minter was deployed as an eighth inning reliever as a set-up man for closer Raisel Iglesias. Minter posted a strong 26.1% K rate and generated hard contact at a solid 33.3% rate. However, he had his season cut short after undergoing season-ending hip surgery in August. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his recovery process during Spring Training as he may miss time early. With the Boston Red Sox acquiring Aroldis Chapman earlier this offseason, fantasy managers should expect Minter to return to a set-up role if he were to come to an agreement with the Red Sox.
Atlanta Braves left-hander reliever A.J. Minter (hip) visited with a specialist and will need surgery on his hip. The Braves won't know the severity until Minter is operated on, according to manager Brian Snitker, but the skipper couldn't say for sure whether Minter would miss the rest of the year. Given where we're at in the MLB season, it's a good bet that the 30-year-old veteran southpaw won't pitch again for Atlanta in 2024, even if they qualify for the postseason. It will be a big blow to the back end of their bullpen, as Minter has had a solid season with a 2.62 ERA (4.46 FIP), a 1.02 WHIP, one save, 35 strikeouts and 11 walks in only 34 1/3 innings pitched due to injuries. The Braves will now hope Joe Jimenez and Aaron Bummer can step up in Minter's absence in late-inning setup roles in front of closer Raisel Iglesias.
The Atlanta Braves placed left-handed reliever A.J. Minter (hip) on the 15-day injured list on Monday with left-hip inflammation and recalled left-hander Dylan Lee from the minors in a corresponding move. For the second time this year, a hip injury has landed Minter on the IL. The 30-year-old veteran southpaw could miss extended time, considering his last hip injury kept him on the sidelines for a month-plus. It will be a big loss for Atlanta's struggling bullpen, as Minter has been solid this year with a 5-4 record, 2.62 ERA (4.46 FIP), a 1.02 WHIP, one save, 35 strikeouts and 11 walks in 34 1/3 innings of work. He probably will not be back for the Braves until some point in September. Lee, 30, has allowed 15 runs (10 earned) on 38 hits (four homers) while striking out 49 and walking 14 in his 45 relief innings in Atlanta in 2024.
Braves Reinstate A.J. Minter From The Injured List
The Atlanta Braves reinstated left-hander A.J. Minter (hip) from the 15-day injured list on Monday. Minter will return from the injured list after being out since late May with left-hip inflammation. The 30-year-old veteran southpaw will return to a key late-inning setup role in front of closer Raisel Iglesias, so he'll once again have value in fantasy leagues that reward points for holds. In his three minor-league rehab appearances with Triple-A Gwinnett, Minter gave up two runs (one earned) with three strikeouts and two walks in three innings. He does have 36 career saves for Atlanta in his eight seasons in the big leagues, but unless Iglesias goes down with an injury, Minter is unlikely to see many save opps. Before getting hurt, he had a 2.95 ERA, a 0.98 WHIP, one save and a 23:6 K:BB in 21 1/3 relief innings for the Braves.
Atlanta Braves relief pitcher A.J. Minter (hip) is scheduled to throw on the mound for Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday. The left-hander is working his way back from left hip inflammation. If everything goes well, Minter should be able to rejoin the Braves bullpen after Sunday's outing. This doesn't mean much in terms of fantasy baseball. Minter is expected to be a high-leverage set-up option, which means he probably won't have value unless in leagues where holds matter.
Atlanta Braves left-handed reliever A.J. Minter (hip) had his minor-league rehab assignment transferred to Triple-A Gwinnett after one appearance with High-A Rome over the weekend. Minter is scheduled to pitch for Gwinnett on Tuesday night at Coolray Field. In his lone appearance with Rome on Saturday, Minter gave up an unearned run on one hit while striking out three batters in his inning of work. The 30-year-old veteran southpaw reliever has been on the injured list with left-hip inflammation since May 30 but could be back in Atlanta's bullpen later this week if he gets through his next appearance at Triple-A. Minter will return to being a key high-leverage setup man for the Braves in front of closer Raisel Iglesias when he comes off the injured list. So far this year, he has gone 5-3 with a save, a 2.95 ERA, a 0.98 WHIP and 23 K's in 21 1/3 innings. Minter has fantasy value in holds leagues.
Atlanta Braves left-hander A.J. Minter (hip) is starting a minor-league rehab assignment on Saturday night with High-A Rome. Minter will finally return to pitching in games after landing on the injured list in late May with left-hip inflammation. Barring a setback down on the farm, Minter shouldn't need a very long rehab assignment before rejoining the back end of Atlanta's bullpen in the big leagues. When he's back with the Braves, Minter will reclaim his role as the team's primary setup man ahead of closer Raisel Iglesias. Before hitting the injured list, Minter was 5-3 this year with a 2.95 ERA (4.88 FIP), a 0.98 WHIP, one save, 23 strikeouts and six walks in 21 1/3 innings out of the bullpen. He's not going to be much of an option for saves as long as Iglesias stays healthy, but Minter is valuable in holds leagues when he's available.