Heading into the new season, one thing everyone was sure of—the New York Mets were going to be a tough competition. They are going to be the nightmare for many teams, and this has come true given they are lights out now. The vibes are high, the bullpen is clicking, and suddenly there seems to be some kind of magic in the air. And, A.J. Minter felt it from way back.

After spending his career in Atlanta, Minter did something very few saw coming—he jumped ship. He signed a two-year, $22 million deal with a division rival. And no, he didn’t even flinch at it. While the fans of the New York Mets welcomed him, Atlanta Braves fans felt it was almost a betrayal. However, for Minter, who was fresh off a hip surgery and recovering, he was clear on his vision.

Minter knew exactly what he was doing and why.

“My priority is to win another World Series,” Minter declared to MLB.com. “I think this is my best chance.” He is confident, and that can only come after a lot of calculations. Minter knows that the World Series titles are not claimed by just the best team on paper. They have to strive to do more to get to that bigger goal—essentially have the hunger, which he says he saw with the Mets.

And Minter also isn’t the only person to say this. Remember Juan Soto’s reason for letting go of pinstripes? The star of last off-season himself felt the Mets gave him another shot at the World Series. So Minter’s reasoning does add up. But, while he is settling rather nicely in New York, his free agency didn’t go as smoothly. This is because he had a lot on his plate!

A.J.Minter was going back and forth between planning a proposal to his now fiancée and watching other relievers vanish off the board. He, meanwhile, was just weighing out the options and made the decision when he felt best. “I got a good offer from the Mets and was like, I don’t think there’s any reason to sit on it. I was happy with New York and happy with my offer, so I decided to pull the trigger.” And sure, he joined a division rival, but the former Atlanta Braves star said it was nothing more different than changing schools. It gets awkward at first, but things get better.

And well, Minter’s decision has been a no-brainer for him. While he is thriving in the New York Mets, the Braves are in a pool of disappointment.

A.J. Minter’s move to the New York Mets looks like a win

Let’s rewind to the start of 2025. Atlanta Braves’ big oh no moment was not their starting rotation or lineup—it was their bullpen. They not only had to watch A.J. Minter pack his bags and leave, but they even lost Joe Jimenez to injury just before the first pitch this season too. In the end, the Braves, of course, were left with Raisel Iglesias, and they hoped this just worked. But right now, okay is far from where they are.

For example, in their opener game against the Blue Jays, they looked great. Grant Holmes threw the best game of his career, and things were fine. But the moment Aaron Bummer entered the game, the big lead they had -started to shrink pretty fast. And yes, the Braves did walk away with the win, but it just highlighted the bullpen issues the team had. Also, now they have Craig Kimbrel back in the picture, yet the game feels more or less the same.

As time passes, the Braves fans are getting more impatient than ever. After all, this was the team that was talked about challenging the Los Angeles Dodgers. And here they are simply trying to claw their way out of being at the bottom of the division. However, one piece of good news did arrive for fans as they locked in an 8-4 win against the Toronto Blue Jays. Austin Riley was the star performer who smashed two home runs and five RBIs. 

But whether this remains to be a one-off thing or something Braves fans will see regularly remains to be seen. For now, though, for them to be taken seriously, adding some actual depth is crucial. Don’t you think?