T.J.

McFarland

McFarland was acquired from the Dodgers prior to the 2024 season and posted a 3.81 ERA over 56 2/3 innings pitched last season. He’ll give the Athletics more veteran bullpen depth in 2025.

The 34-year-old southpaw wasn’t going to crack the Dodgers’ bullpen and was unlikely to accept a minor league assignment, so the Dodgers flipped him for whatever they could get from a team in desperate need of bullpen help. McFarland will now make the A’s Opening Day bullpen where he should be utilized in the middle innings.

The 34-year-old southpaw made just three appearances at the big league level for the Mets in 2023 — posting a 5.40 ERA, 3.00 WHIP and a 2/1 K/BB ratio over 1 2/3 frames. He’ll add bullpen depth from the left side for an incredibly deep and talented Dodgers’ bullpen.

The soft-tossing McFarland opened his career in Baltimore, posting a 4.27 ERA in 121 appearances from 2013-16. He had been with the Mets organization this year, posting a 2.76 ERA in 32 2/3 innings in Triple-A and giving up two runs — one earned — in 1 2/3 innings for the major league team.

McFarland has refused an outright minor league assignment from the Mets after being designated for assignment last week and will test the free agent waters instead. The 34-year-old southpaw has made 354 appearances in the majors dating back to 2013.

The 34-year-old southpaw passed through waivers unclaimed and will continue to function as extra bullpen depth for the Mets at the Triple-A level. He registered a 5.40 ERA and 3.00 WHIP during his 1 2/3 innings with the big league club.

The Mets needed to free up a spot on their 40-man roster for Jose Quintana’s return on Friday, and McFarland unfortunately was the odd-man out this time around. He posted a 5.40 ERA, 3.00 WHIP and a 2/1 K/BB ratio over 1 2/3 innings with the Mets.

McFarland signed a minor league contract back in January with the Mets and gets the call to the big leagues after posting a solid 2.76 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 37/17 K/BB ratio across 32 2/3 innings (23 appearances) for Triple-A Syracuse. The 34-year-old southpaw made 28 relief appearances last year for the Cardinals and has made 351 appearances in the majors over the last decade.

The 33-year-old had an uninspiring 6.75 ERA across eight innings this spring. He will hope to rebound in the minors and will serve as emergency relief depth for the Mets.

The deal likely also includes an invitation to spring training. McFarland compiled an uninspiring 6.61 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 16/11 K/BB ratio across 32 2/3 innings (28 appearances) last season for the Cardinals, and the results weren’t much better at Triple-A Memphis either. The well-traveled 33-year-old southpaw gives the Mets some additional left-handed relief depth and will likely open the 2023 season at Triple-A Syracuse.