Sometimes a story is just too good to be true. The New York Mets signed left-handed reliever Richard Lovelady on June 23 out of desperation. The team was in desperate need of help for the bullpen. But his signing went viral for an entirely different reason. Fans discovered the pitcher, legally named Richard, preferred his nickname: Dicky. The name ‘Dicky Lovelady’ became an instant social media sensation. It felt like a character straight out of an ‘Austin Powers’ movie, and gave a weary fan base some much-needed laughs. That brief moment of levity ended abruptly.
Following a catastrophic bullpen meltdown against the Atlanta Braves, the front office acted with stunning speed. They purged their entire left-handed relief corps in one fell swoop. MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo broke the shocking news on X. “The Mets just DFA’d both left-handed relievers on their active roster, José Castillo and Richard Lovelady,” he wrote. “Jonathan Pintaro and Brandon Waddell (another lefty) are up.” The tenure was officially over before it ever truly began.
The Mets just DFA’d both left-handed relievers on their active roster, José Castillo and Richard Lovelady.
Jonathan Pintaro and Brandon Waddell (another lefty) are up.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) June 25, 2025
Lovelady’s lone appearance as a Met was a perfect summary of his time in the majors. The outing started with incredible promise. He retired the first five batters he faced, striking out five of them. But then, the journeyman lefty simply “ran out of gas.” He issued a walk to the next two batters and then gave up an RBI double to Matt Olson. His ultimate line was 1.2 IP, two earned runs. This performance was a microcosm of his career. He posted a stellar 1.31 ERA in Triple-A this year, but his career MLB ERA sits at a bloated 5.26.
So, what comes next for a team dealing with constant bullpen turmoil? The Mets recalled a familiar face in Brandon Waddell. Now he will be the only left-hander in the bullpen. Waddell has posted a 3.38 ERA over 10.2 innings with the team this year. Joining him is Jonathan Pintaro, an interesting righty prospect. The team called him up from Double-A after he had a 3.40 ERA and 57 strikeouts there. These are the latest moves in a continual attempt to plug holes until rehabbing arms can return.
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