BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JULY 06: Joe Jacques #78 of the Boston Red Sox walks off of the field after the fifth inning of a game against the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park on July 06, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)
Getty Images
The New York Mets entered the 2026 season hoping a groundball specialist who spent most of his career with the Boston Red Sox could become another useful piece of their pitching depth.
After signing the veteran left-hander shortly after the playoffs began last year, the organization invited him to Spring Training with the possibility of competing for a spot in the major league bullpen.
Instead, his time with the organization has ended without him ever appearing in a Mets uniform, as he was unable to build any momentum on the mound in a harsh minor league season.
New York Mets Move On From Veteran Lefty After Boston Red Sox Stint
The New York Mets have cut ties with former Red Sox southpaw Joe Jacques after a difficult season that included an extended stint on the injured list and a 5.92 ERA in Triple-A.
Syracuse officially released Jacques on September 9, according to the transaction log, bringing an end to his brief tenure with the organization.
The move came less than a year after New York brought Jacques aboard with hopes that his unusual sidearm delivery and ground-ball tendencies could provide another option for the bullpen.
“Jacques will receive $800K in prorated salary if he makes New York’s active roster, and he will receive an invitation to the Mets’ Spring Training camp,” Mark Polishuk reported for MLB Trade Rumors at the time. “The move is a bit of a homecoming for Jacques, who was born in Shrewsbury, New Jersey and played his college ball at Manhattan University.”
That opportunity never translated into a major league callup. Jacques spent the year in the Mets’ minor league system and dealt with an injury that kept him out for a portion of the season. He returned in July after a rehab assignment with Brooklyn, but ultimately finished his Mets tenure without reaching New York.
Former Boston Red Sox Pitcher Faces Career Reset After New York Mets Cut
Jacques’ path to the Mets had already included several stops after he broke into the majors with Boston.
The Red Sox selected him from the Pittsburgh Pirates organization in the minor league phase of the 2022 Rule 5 Draft, and he reached Boston the following season. Jacques made his MLB debut in June 2023 and eventually appeared in 23 games for the Red Sox that year, recording a 5.06 ERA in 26 2/3 innings.
He also pitched for Boston in 2024 before being designated for assignment and subsequently claimed by the Arizona Diamondbacks. His major league opportunities became increasingly difficult to find after that, with stops in the Dodgers and Mariners organizations preceding his Mets deal.
“For the Mets, the transaction is a quiet housekeeping move in a season that has already featured heavy roster turnover,” Yardbarker reported of the cut. “Jacques never appeared in a Mets uniform at the major-league level.”
For Jacques, the release creates another opportunity to search for an organization willing to give the 31-year-old lefty one more chance.
Leave a comment