The New York Mets have officially moved on from two familiar faces, but their journey isn’t over just yet. Instead, they’ve found a new home with the division-rival Atlanta Braves, setting up a potential revenge tour that could haunt Mets fans later this season.
The Braves have been busy adding former Mets to their roster, with left-handed reliever Jake Diekman and right-hander Dylan Covey both joining the team after being let go by New York. The moves highlight how quickly things can change in baseball, and Mets fans may not have seen the last of these pitchers just yet.
Atlanta had already signed Chasen Shreve to a minor league deal earlier in the offseason, but the additions of Diekman and Covey add a bit more intrigue. Covey was recently cut by the Mets and chose free agency over a minor league assignment, landing with the Braves almost immediately. His quick transition suggests he’s eager to prove New York wrong for letting him go.
This situation feels reminiscent of Austin Adams’ move last season when the reliever, after being traded from the Mets to the Oakland Athletics, returned to Citi Field and mockingly imitated the Mets’ “OMG” celebration following a clutch performance. Could Covey be eyeing a similar moment against his former team?
Diekman, on the other hand, is a bigger wild card. Known for his nasty movement but shaky control, he struggled with the Mets in 2024, eventually giving up too many home runs before being released midseason. If he sticks around with the Braves, the possibility of him facing the Mets in a high-leverage situation could be a nightmare for New York.
It’s nothing new to see players bounce between NL East rivals. The Mets themselves made a major move by bringing in longtime Braves reliever A.J. Minter for the 2025 season. Meanwhile, Luis Guillorme, a former Mets utility man, had a brief stint with the Braves last year before signing with the Houston Astros this offseason.
While Diekman and Covey aren’t the biggest names, baseball has a way of making former players come back to haunt their old teams. If Diekman strikes out Juan Soto in a crucial moment later this season, Mets fans will surely be left shaking their heads.
Leave a Reply