The New York Mets have signed former All-Star relief pitcher Chris Devenski to a minor league contract, assigning him to Triple-A Syracuse. The move was confirmed via MLB.com’s transactions tracker and marks the latest addition to the Mets' organizational depth. Devenski, a 6-foot-3 right-handed pitcher, became a free agent earlier this month after being outrighted by the Pittsburgh Pirates. His recent performance with the Pirates included three games, in which he surrendered two earned runs on five hits across 2.1 innings while striking out three batters. Devenski previously spent part of the 2025 season with the Mets, appearing in 13 games with a 0-0 record, a 2.16 ERA, and 14 strikeouts. His return to the Mets organization is viewed as a low-risk move, offering the team additional veteran presence at the Triple-A level. Over his 11-season MLB career, spanning 319 games, Devenski has compiled a 27-22 record, a 3.93 ERA, eight saves, and 432 strikeouts. He was named an All-Star in 2017 while playing for the Houston Astros. The Mets’ decision to bring back Devenski follows similar moves by other teams in the NL East. Just days later, the Philadelphia Phillies signed 38-year-old relief pitcher Casey Lawrence to a minor league contract, sending him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Lawrence was recently released by the Seattle Mariners after spending the 2026 season exclusively in Triple-A Tacoma, where he went 6-7 with a 4.37 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 23 appearances. His last major league action came in 2025, when he appeared in six games across the Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays, posting a 1-2 record and a 4.08 ERA. Lawrence’s career in the majors includes 65 games across five seasons with the Mariners, Blue Jays, and St. Louis Cardinals, resulting in a 5-6 record, a 6.42 ERA, and 104 strikeouts. Despite his struggles in the majors, the Phillies see value in his experience and plan to give him a chance to prove himself at the Triple-A level. Meanwhile, the New York Yankees also made a move to bolster their relief corps. According to The Yes Network’s Conor Foley, the Yankees signed relief pitcher Justin Topa to a minor league contract and placed pitcher Angel Chivilli on the 7-day injured list. Topa, who was released by the Minnesota Twins in May after a difficult season, had appeared in 23 MLB games this year with a 0-1 record, an 8.05 ERA, and 12 strikeouts. However, his Triple-A performances were more promising, he posted a 1.74 ERA and recorded five saves in 20 appearances split between the Buffalo Bisons and Omaha Storm Chasers. Topa will now join Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he hopes to regain form and potentially earn a promotion to the majors if he performs well. Across his seven-season MLB career, spread over stints with the Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners, and Twins, Topa has gone 6-11 with a 4.27 ERA and 141 strikeouts in 172 games. These signings reflect a broader trend among MLB teams to add veteran depth through minor league deals, particularly as the regular season progresses and rosters continue to shift. With each team aiming to strengthen its bullpen, these players represent both risk and opportunity, providing organizations with experienced arms who can contribute at the Triple-A level and possibly ascend to the majors if they perform. The Mets, Phillies, and Yankees all appear to be taking calculated steps to ensure their systems remain competitive and prepared for any changes that might arise in the coming weeks.
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