Buttó will return to the bullpen after his transition to a relief pitcher last year proved to help him and the team.
In many ways, José Buttó’s 2024 season mirrored that of the team he pitched for. Like the Mets, the beginning of his season was mostly defined by starts and stops, but was overall nothing to write home about. By mid-season, Buttó found his footing and took off, putting together a season that nobody saw coming.
It was a year of growth and discovery for Buttó. The right-hander began the year as a starting pitcher, getting his first start on April 4 in a doubleheader—as a fun bit of trivia, he started the first game the Mets would win during their 2024 campaign. He made seven starts for the Mets, posting a 3.08 ERA, a 4.17 FIP, and a 1.13 WHIP across 38 innings. He had some great starts, including six shutout innings against the Royals on April 14, but he still found himself being sent to the minors after his May 14 start against the Phillies.
Buttó made his triumphant return to the majors on July 2 as a reliever, tossing two scoreless innings against the Nationals. From there, it didn’t take him long to enter Carlos Mendoza’s circle of trust. He would end up becoming a high-leverage option for New York, throwing 36 innings and pitching to a 2.00 ERA, a 3.47 FIP, and a 1.00 WHIP. He posted a 10.25 K/9 and a 4.25 BB/9 out of the pen (against a 9.00 K/9 and a 4.97 BB/9 as a starter). The walks remain the biggest concern for the righty, and is something to keep an eye on, as his walk rate still remains higher than you’d like to see for a late-inning reliever who will be called on to pitch in some big spots.
He was a big weapon out of the pen for Mendoza, as he was both a late inning reliever and a long reliever who could give the team two or three innings when needed. He was a versatile option for New York and proved to be one of the best pieces out of their pen. As a result, the Mets made the postseason, and Buttó got to experience his first taste of October baseball. Buttó tossed seven innings in the playoffs and allowed six runs (five earned) on six hits, with eight strikeouts and three walks.
Buttó’s role will largely remain the same in 2025. The 27-year-old will sit right behind Edwin Díaz on the bullpen depth chart and will be entrusted to pitch a lot of big innings alongside Reed Garrett and A.J. Minter. The Mets’ bullpen has a lot of potential, especially when Dedniel Núñez returns. If the Mets bullpen is to become a strength for the 2025 club, Buttó will need to replicate the success he experienced in 2025. All indications are that he will get every chance to make an impact with the team yet again this season.