The New York Mets have announced they have signed left-handed reliever T.J. McFarland to a minor league deal.

McFarland, 33, made 28 appearances for the St. Louis Cardinals last season. He struggled in those appearances posting a 6.61 ERA, 1.622 WHIP, 3.0 BB/9, and a 4.4 K/9.

With those struggles, McFarland was designated for assignment and released in August. He returns to the Cardinals on a minor league deal later that month and pitched for the Cardinals Triple-A affiliate.

McFarland had come off a promising 2021 season where he posted a 2.56 ERA and a 154 ERA+ for the Cardinals. It was just one of three seasons in his Major League career where he posted an ERA+ over 100.

If McFarland were to make the Opening Day roster or pitch in the majors in 2023, he would be reunited with Mets manager Buck Showalter. McFarland pitched four seasons with the Baltimore Orioles under Showalter posting a 4.27 ERA and 96 ERA+.

McFarland is a traditional LOOGY holding left-handed batters to a .683 OPS over his career. The three batter rule does negatively impact him as he has yielded an .823 OPS to right-handed batters in his career.

McFarland is assuming a role once held by Alex Claudio, who signed a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers. Claudio previously pitched with the Brewers from 2019 – 2020.

Claudio spent almost the entirety of the 2022 season with the Triple-A Syracuse Mets. In 34 appearances, he was 3-2 with two saves, a 3.91 ERA, 1.262 WHIP, 2.8 BB/9, and a 7.8 K/9.

Claudio was called up to the Mets in September as the team dealt with a rash of injuries. He would make three scoreless appearances before being sent back down to Triple-A to complete the season.