The New York Mets have officially brought right-hander Robert Stock back into the fold, signing the veteran to a one year major league contract on Friday. According to reports from Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, the agreement is structured as a split contract, meaning Stock’s compensation will vary depending on whether he spends his time on the active big league roster or within the minor league system. The move provides the Mets with much needed pitching depth as they navigate their offseason strategy.
At nearly 37 years old, Stock brings a winding road of experience to Flushing. His career has seen him traverse across several MLB teams between 2018 and 2021 before taking a detour through South Korea, Mexico, and independent ball. Despite facing significant hurdles recently, including surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome last March, Stock showed flashes of resilience when he joined the Mets’ active roster in August. Though his numbers were modest over thirty innings of work, his velocity remained impressive, consistently hitting near ninety six miles per hour.
While a late season injury involving finger numbness cut his campaign short in September, the decision to re-sign him suggests that the Mets are optimistic about his long term health. By placing him on the forty man roster now, the team gains some strategic flexibility regarding how they manage their personnel heading into spring training. Because Stock is out of minor league options, any attempt to send him down would require designating him for assignment.
The specific financial structure of the split deal may actually serve as a safeguard for New York. A higher guaranteed salary for the major league portion could make other teams hesitant to claim him off waivers should he be designated for assignment, increasing the likelihood that he clears waivers and remains in the organization. For now, Stock serves as a versatile insurance policy who can slide into either the starting rotation or the bullpen as the team continues its pursuit of additional arms this winter.
