The Mets announced Thursday that they’ve claimed outfielder Aaron Altherr off waivers from the Giants and designated right-hander Tim Peterson for assignment in order to open a spot on the 40-man roster. Altherr, who is out of minor league options, will be added directly to the Mets’ roster after today’s game. He’ll step into a depleted outfield mix that is currently without Michael Conforto, Brandon Nimmo or Jeff McNeil, each of whom is on the injured list.
Altherr, 28, has spent the majority of his career with the division-rival Phillies, but Philadelphia ultimately had to designate him for assignment earlier this month due to a lack of playing time and his lack of options. He briefly landed with the Giants and appeared in all of one game with one plate appearance before his second DFA of the season. Given that the Mets have a whole outfield on the IL at the moment but none of the three is seriously injured, it’s possible that Altherr’s stay with his new organization will also be brief (though it’ll surely be longer than his Giants tenure).
Altherr has had an up-and-down career with the Phillies, showing great promise on multiple occasions but also battling frequent injuries that, at times, hampered his ability at the plate. He hit .241/.338/.489 through 161 plate appearances as a rookie in 2015 and .272/.340/.516 in 412 plate appearances in 2017. Altherr, however, posted miserable seasons at the plate in both 2016 (.587 OPS, 59 OPS+) and 2018 (.628, 68 OPS+), and he’s off to a 1-for-30 start so far in 2019. He possess an enticing blend of power and speed, but he’s also prone to strikeouts and prolonged slumps at the plate.
Peterson, also 28, has a 5.56 ERA and a 28-to-11 K/BB ratio through 34 MLB innings — 6 1/3 of which came earlier this season. An extreme fly-ball pitcher who doesn’t throw especially hard, Peterson hasn’t missed many bats at the MLB level but has a 3.90 ERA with 11.0 K/9 against 2.1 BB/9 in 60 innings at the Triple-A level. He currently has a 2.89 ERA and a 16-to-2 K/BB ratio in 18 2/3 innings with the Mets’ affiliate in Syracuse. He’s a pure reliever who also has a minor league option remaining beyond the 2019 season, so it’s possible another club could view him as some optionable bullpen candidate.
Why not Flexen or Rhame
Rhame must be indebted to by the Mets or perhaps holding one of the Wilpons’ relatives hostage to still be around at this point.
Flexen sucks. He is not a major league pitcher.
Flexen is starting depth. No idea how Rhame keeps skating by
Flexen isn’t depth – he just sucks.
Who pays for these DFA guys moving expenses?
Even if they’re making ML minimum, they can afford it
I have to assume a guy like Altherr isn’t exactly moving his entire apartment each time? Probably only has a few bags, as the team provides all he needs for the job. Plus that’s what agents are for…..the detail stuff…
Pretty sure in the CBA agreement there is a whole section about this. If I’m not mistaking, the team that owned his rights helps with moving expenses if need be. In this situation though Altherr isn’t staying in one place so I highly doubt he is looking to move. More than likely he is staying in hotels on teams expense or using his players allowence
So’ll he’ll be on the team for a week then DFA’d again.
BVW’s moves are starting to look just like what Sandy would do.
The Mets have half the team on the IL and they are winning. Granted it is the Nats but they beat some good pitching. BVW’s stashing Gomez and R. Davis beats the heck out of Sandy and Den Decker and austin jackson.
Gomez and Davis will be released before the All Star break
Actually BVW’s moves seem stupider than Sandy…Cano for Kellenic? Even Overrated Sandy wouldnt have made such a STUPID move.
Stop simplifying the trade to Canó for Kellenic. That doesn’t remotely explain the extent of the deal. A slightly more accurate bottom line would be Díaz for Kellenic. The Mets were not going to get Díaz without taking Canó’s contract. The Mets were not going to take that contract without the Mariners paying it down somewhat and taking back a couple of the Mets bad contracts (i.e., Bruce and Swarzak). If the Mariners wanted even better prospects than Kellenic, Dunn and Bautista, like McNeil, they would’ve had to have paid a lot more than $20M of Canó’s contract.
BVW did Dipoto a HUGE favor. NOONE else was going to take Cano off their hands. BVW capitulated way too easily. He could of had Diaz just for taking this Albatross and chipping in a prospect. It’s not as if Dipoto had a second choice.
if you said Rajai Davis, Carlos Gomez, and Arron Altherr would be among NYM’s 4 outfielders at any specific point in time this season, youdve been called crazy. seems not to crazy in hindsight though…
I hope Altherr gets a shot at some playing time. He’s only 28 and profiled as a sturdy 4th outfielder…
I do not understand the Giants for picking Williamson over Altherr. Williamson had 1 good game and back at being a waste of a spot.
They still have one more veteran OF stashed in Syracuse – Gregor Blanco. I’m not sure he’ll get the call any time soon, but those angry about Rhame not getting DFA’d yet will probably soon get their wish, because it’s a virtual certainty they will either pick up someone else or bring Lowrie up off the 60-day IL.
Mets picking up players like Altherr and having Rajai Davis/Gomez/Blanco in AAA is definitely better than trying to extract the last bit of life from Adrian Gonzalez/Jose Bautista etc etc. when depth is needed. Not a fan of many of BVWs moves but this is one improvement for sure over the Sandy regime (for now). But of course Mets fans are expecting them to grab all stars on the waiver wire as IL replacements
What a joke, the Giants DFA Altherr after one at bat, yet they keep Williamson. Mr. Zaidi you obviously have not followed the organization. Williamson has been given enough opportunities to be successful, but yet Bochy continues to value his friendships with his players instead of giving an honest assessment of talent. Typical Williamson routine, he tears the leather off the ball in A ball, gets called to the big show, has one or two good games and then he totally wets the bed! Did you see his at bats today? How many times did he strike out swinging at fastballs?? I thought he revamped his swing by hiring Justin Turner’s hitting instructor? Geez, dump the guy already and be done with him. You made a mistake by keeping him. SMH
I would have preferred Revere
Another dumpster pick up with an injury history. Will they ever learn?
Ben or Paul Revere?
why can’t the Giants find outfielders?
Hello Mr. Zaidi, you must be sleeping. Did you not see that Mac Williamson struck out three more times tonight? When is enough, enough?? Are you to tell us there aren’t any other minor league players deserving of a chance? Let the kids play because the season is over. If you are worried about another team claiming him, I can assure you it is very unlikely. SMH