Breaking: Zach Pop Injury Update — Blue Jays Reliever Set to Rejoin Bullpen Sooner Than Expected

Toronto, ON — Hard-throwing right-hander Zach Pop is officially back on the open market after clearing outright waivers and electing free agency on 2 July 2025, ending a brief stint in the Seattle Mariners system and capping an eventful four-month stretch that has already seen him designated for assignment twice this season. Pop, 28, opened 2025 in the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen but was cut at the end of Spring Training following a rocky Cactus League (9.00 ERA, 6 IP). The Mariners scooped him up in mid-June, yet the Canadian reliever managed only four appearances (5.1 IP, 4 ER) before being removed from the 40-man roster. Rather than accept an outright to Triple-A Tacoma, Pop chose free agency, betting that his mid-90s sinker and ground-ball profile will entice a club looking for low-cost relief help. Multiple industry sources indicate the New York Mets have already opened talks with Pop’s camp, eyeing a major-league deal as they scramble to patch a bullpen that ranks 23rd in MLB in ERA (4.67) and 28th in GB% (40.2 %). For a Mets staff that leans heavily on fly-ball arms, Pop’s 58.9 % ground-ball rate since debuting with Miami in 2021 is a clear fit. Why contenders are circling • Velocity & movement: Pop averaged 95.8 mph on his sinker this year, generating 16 inches of arm-side run—top-15 % among MLB relievers. • Platoon neutral: While right-handers slash .242/.301/.349, lefties are at .250/.308/.371, thanks to an improved sweeping slider he unveiled last August. • Contract flexibility: Because Pop has fewer than three full service years, any signing club will control him through 2028 via arbitration. Health check Pop missed six weeks in 2024 with elbow inflammation but returned averaging the same velocity. Scouts in June clocked him at 96-97 mph with no discomfort in back-to-back outings, easing concerns about long-term durability. Potential landing spots 1. New York Mets — Immediate need, pitcher-friendly Citi Field, strong ground-ball infield defense. 2. Tampa Bay Rays — Track record of converting sinker/slider arms; low-risk one-year deal fits their model. 3. Chicago Cubs — Seeking depth behind Adbert Alzolay; Pop’s minor-league option adds roster elasticity. 4. Baltimore Orioles — Original drafting club (2017) loves reunion stories and needs innings amid bullpen injuries. Stat snapshot (2021-25): • 114.0 IP, 3.95 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 98 K, 51 BB • 58.9 % ground-ball rate, 0.67 HR/9 What’s next Expect Pop to make a decision before the All-Star break. If the Mets finalize their rumored offer, he could be active as soon as the 8 July series against Pittsburgh, providing manager Carlos Mendoza a seventh-inning bridge to Edwin Díaz. Search interest in “Zach Pop” spiked 300 % overnight as fans track his next destination, underscoring how a mid-season bullpen shuffle can capture league-wide attention and create a sneaky-valuable waiver-wire pickup for fantasy managers hunting saves and holds.