The New York Mets have reportedly signed outfielder Rymer Liriano to a minor-league deal, per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale (via Twitter). The deal includes opt out clauses specifically for playing opportunities in Japan and Korea, as well as a $600K guarantee if he makes the big league club.
Liriano will audition for a reserve role in the outfield, where he faces an uphill climb to make the roster, as veterans Rajai Davis and Gregor Blanco will also be in camp auditioning for likely no more than a single roster spot. Without any further additions, regular contributors Brandon Nimmo, Michael Conforto and Juan Lagares would soak up most of the outfield at-bats, with any number of Jeff McNeil, Dominic Smith, Dilson Herrera and Travis d’Arnaud potentially seeing time in the outfield as well. Given that the Mets hope to get Yoenis Cespedes back at some point during the season, Liriano seems likely ticketed for another season in Triple A if he stays with the organization beyond the spring.
Liriano, 27, last saw big league action with the White Sox in 2017, managing a .220/.304/.341 line in limited time. He made his ML debut in 2014 for the Padres where, as a 23-year-old, he struggled to the tune of .220/.289/.266 across 121 plate appearances. He was originally signed by the Padres as an amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic back in 2007.
This is not the Liriano you’re looking for.
Haha, my thoughts exactly.
Lots of competition for the fourth outfielder role.
Came up with major potential, hasnt lived up to the hype. Good luck to him!
Tjs slowed his row before he got to the show
Hopefully now he gets a chance to grow.
Soon we’ll know.
Grow? He has been in the minors since his brief call up in 2013 with a cup of coffee again in 2017
Yes, he was a highly touted and over-hyped Padres prospect. He just never panned out. I wish him well.
And people wonder why I never get too excited about prospects.
Former top 50 prospect who hasn’t panned out!
Wrong.
Top 79
He was rated as high as 39 by BP, and as high as 55 by MLB Pipeline – in 2013. (See bbref)
Where do you think I got this from?
should be pollock.
Cheaper than Pollack. Wagon Wheel’s ATM card was taken away. Lose and prove Fred right. Tough luck Jeff.
As a Mets fan I AM getting concerned that your comment mikeyank55 about the ATM card has now been taken away is a very accurate point of view of where the Mets offseason now stands…..Or in other words Jeffs hands are now FIRMLY WRAPPED around his wallet again……DANG IT !
Talented, toolsy guy. Still young at 27. .A former Top 50 prospect with strong arm and power potential. Hope he shines.
Number 79 in 2013
Tjs killed his career early on.
He’s an outfielder, not a pitcher. He missed some reps, that’s all. He simply hasn’t panned out.
He was supposed to be a 5 tool player and lose his arm after he received tjs
Being and outfielder or a pitcher makes no difference. Not everyone recovers from tjs. This was his throwing arm. See pitcher Josh Johnson 3x for promise but failure
There’s a world of difference in recovery time. And it doesn’t seem to affect offensive performance.
Says who?
History.
If the Meta see him as AAA depth, there’s at least some “Rymer” reason for this move.
This was covered in a minor moves post a few days ago, if I’m not mistaken
after having no depth in the last 10 years love all these depth moves not game changers but definitely will help
That’s exactly it. We have never had veteran experience in the minors to fill in the injury gaps or add depth over the long season and September. These are all good moves that, together, could add five wins. I really don’t need to see more of Matt den Dekkar, Dom Smith and Cecchini, do you?
“…with any number of Jeff McNeil, Dominic Smith, Dilson Herrera and Travis d’Arnaud potentially seeing time in the outfield as well.:
As a Mets fan, the idea of this made me vomit a little.
As a Phillies fan, even I vomited a little.
Yeah that doesn’t make any sense. Might as well have Syndergaard play the outfield too.
where do they find these clowns….4th place. thats where they ll finish…got spend $$$$ OR GIVE UP OWNER SHIP