Right-hander Hunter Strickland went unclaimed on outright waivers and has been assigned to the team’s alternate training site in Brooklyn, tweets MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo. Strickland is no longer on the 40-man roster, but because he was outrighted to the alternate training site, he remains in the Mets’ 60-man player pool and could be selected back to the big league roster at some point.
The 31-year-old Strickland appeared in three games for the Mets but struggled, serving up four runs (three earned) on six hits with two strikeouts in 2 1/3 frames. He still averaged 96 mph on his heater, and it’s worth noting that he didn’t give up much in the way of hard contact in his tiny sample of work (80.7 mph average exit velocity). That said, the fact that he went unclaimed underscores the manner in which he’s tailed off since his strong run with the Giants earlier in his career.
From 2014-17, Strickland pitched to a 2.64 ERA with 8.7 K/9 against 2.9 BB/9 and 0.6 HR/9 in 180 2/3 innings of relief in San Francisco. He’s since made headlines for the wrong reasons — breaking his hand when punching a door after a blown save, inciting a bench-clearing brawl by throwing at Bryce Harper — and his production on the mound has deteriorated as well. In his last 72 big league innings, Strickland carries a 4.75 ERA and and an FIP to match. He’s posted a lackluster 57-to-29 K/BB ratio in that time and served up 11 home runs as well.
Hello Marlins…..
He went unclaimed
Doesn’t say much for him when the Marlins are looking at anyone who can fog a mirror, but they still let Strickland pass.
You can’t eat innings if nobody gets out.
Bartolo Colon can eat innings. Heck, he could eat the whole scoreboard.
It’s not like the Mets bullpen is exactly crushing it. He was throwing good, didn’t walk guys, wasn’t giving up hard hits. They actually lucked out being able to keep him. I’m surprised a couple other teams didn’t try to claim him
I’m sure you saw his first outing against the Braves. Like you said, it’s not like he got hit hard that game. Kinda surprised he got cut loose so quick, I have a feeling he could be back sooner than later with how the Mets bullpen has been.
When me and my buddies saw him on TV last week and he was hit hard, I said this is the last time the Mets will bring in Hunter Strickland with the lead or a tie game. I didn’t know how right we would be LOL
I’m surprised we d Red Sox dont take a chance on him. We are desperate and he’s a better option than the minor leaguers we send out every day.
He was drafted by the Red Sox initially, it would’ve be funny if he ended up there.
He is a cancer in the club house. Every team he has played for other players hate him. Giants players were happy when he left. All the talent in the world but none in his brain.
arc89, yup !!
Why would the Red Sox want this guy? Plenty of other dudes to take chances on that have the potential to be good, a slight chance to make it happen. Strickland is done and with that attitude forget it. He’s a grunt.
He traded being a viable ML pitcher for being an idiot.
Cut sewald
let me get an AB off Strickland
I’ll talk with Brodie.
If Diaz and Familia still stink, Lugo is gonna have to be a superstar for the bullpen to be anything less than disaster.
It’s well on its way, though watching the two series against the Braves the far bigger issue is their terrible defense. Even beyond what the box score shows it seemed the Braves were given extra base runners and shots because of something as simple as the Mets being unable to turn a routine double play quick enough.
On paper, they’ve got some good starting pitching and bats, but when you factor in the health, bullpen, and defense then it’s hard to expect them to win anything of significance.
Phillies missed a chance. Hunter and Bryce are best friends.
Hunter Strychnine is bullpen poison.