The Mets announced a trio of roster moves prior to today’s game, including the placement of third baseman J.D. Davis on the 10-day injured list due to a left hand sprain. The placement is retroactive to September 23, but Davis’ 2021 season seems in all likelihood to be over. In corresponding roster moves, New York activated righty Sean Reid-Foley from the 60-day injured list, and designated outfielder Albert Almora for assignment.
This marks the fourth time this season that Davis has had to spend time on the IL due to his bothersome left hand, and as a result, Davis made only 211 plate appearances over 73 games. Davis has also been in a rough slump for over a month, which further reduced his playing time since Jonathan Villar (who ended up getting the bulk of third base playing time during Davis’ IL stints) became the top choice at the hot corner.
Despite his late slump, Davis will still finish with very strong numbers during his abbreviated season. The 28-year-old has hit .285/.384/.436 with five homers over 211 PA, good for a 126 OPS+ and 130 wRC+. This essentially matches Davis’ overall slash line in a Mets uniform, since he has done nothing but hit since being acquired from the Astros prior to the 2019 season.
While hitting production hasn’t been an issue, Davis’ glovework as a third baseman and left fielder has been subpar, at times making him something of an odd man out as New York has tried to figure out to best deploy its roster. The Mets will face plenty of question marks in their infield this winter, and since they have already dangled Davis in trade talks, the club might be ready to move on. With three years of arbitration control remaining and those strong numbers at the plate, Davis would certainly draw some attention as a very interesting trade chip as the Mets look to upgrade the roster.
Known as a defensive specialist during his time with the Cubs, Almora was signed to a one-year, $1.25MM deal to provide some depth for the Mets outfield. As it turned out, Almora was pretty average with the glovework, he spent over five weeks on the injured list with shoulder problems, and his .321 OPS over 54 PA resulted in a minus-9 wRC+ and minus-11 OPS+. Since the start of the 2019 season, Almora has hit only .216/.256/.342 in 451 plate appearances, and he’ll surely have to settle for a minor league deal if he catches on with another club in the offseason.
Reid-Foley hasn’t pitched since June 30 due to right elbow inflammation. Between this long injury absence and several shuttles back and forth from Triple-A earlier in the season, Reid-Foley has tossed 20 2/3 innings (with a 5.23 ERA) in his first season with the Mets.
More missed war! Add it up.
Thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.
Thoughts and prayers this ever becomes funny.
Fever Pitch Guy, doin’ a lot of thinkin’ & a lot of prayin.” What are the stats on this, is it workin’?
Sure is!
Thoughts and prayers for you to get banned
My grandmother might be able to hit better than Almora. And she died 40 years ago.
Well, this is going to set the Mets back and ruin their playoff chances.
Javier Baez gave this a thumbs down.
This is the part where MetsFan22 cries about all the injuries and doesn’t say anything about the Mets numerous underperformers.
MetsFan22 is like the Albert Almora of the comment section here.
Hey now, that’s not a fair comparison. For one thing, Almora had a job.
There goes the Met’s playoff hopes!
At least the Mets already won the World Series two weeks ago when Mr. .230 hit that homer!
I have a feeling that JD Davis has played his last game for the Mets.
Let’s go check the drunk tanks & jail cells for viable candidates for the Mets FO for 2022!
Ooh! Ooh! Metsfan22 is PERFECT for the job!!!
If MetsFan22 was in the Mets FO, their payroll will be like $800 million…and still not a playoff team.
@MarlinsFanBase We’re not too far off from that reality.
Last I checked, the Marlins aren’t playoff-bound either.
Marlins are a rebuilding team. They aren’t supposed to be yet while the Mets are supposed to be a playoff team. Instead, the Mets are one of baseballs biggest disappointments. There’s no comparison between the two.
My point was MarlinsFanBase did a lot of touting his team earlier this year and criticizing both Metsfan22 and the club.
Was it disappointing to watch Cohen’s club fall so hard? Yup, but expecting to win it all in year one wasnt realistic either. He needs to change the culture of that team – including front office, coaching and trainers – while he’s handing out large checks. There’s a lot of talent already on the roster that abruptly forgot how to play baseball under Alderson/Rojas.
MarlinsFanBase and MetsFan22 have a bit of a spat that you are inserting yourself into. Additionally, I have read many of his posts and they are frequently well thought out and his expectations of the Marlins, realistic. What you read was probably the banter between the two of them.
I have nothing but agreement for your second paragraph. The Mets DO have a lot of talent on that roster. I had expectations of them because of it. However, it’s being revealed over the course of the season that there problem isn’t talent on the starting roster. Coaching, training and FO are the first things I would start with and revaluate after that.
Are you a Mets fan? If so it’s always good chatting with a rational minded fan. Not saying that because you are a Mets fan but just a fan.
I agree with your assessment. The way I see the Mets season is that the team never really hit for any sustained period, even when they were winning. Once their pitching staff faltered even a little bit from the other-worldly level where they performed for the first half, the atrocious offense was revealed, and it all came tumbling down.
Mets fan as long as I breathe (did a little writing for Mets360 even). Love baseball too, but not a fan of bandwagoning or bullying. My in-laws are Yankee fans and I’ve sworn to raise my children with blue and orange in their veins.
There’s a lot of talent already on the roster
========================================
There is *some* talent on the roster, but it is an odd mix. For a few years now, they’ve been carrying corner outfielders, but no true CF. With Stroman, Syndergaard and Conforto all gone, it feels like competing for the WC is their upside.
And DeGrom & Diaz are gone after 2022. Even the DeGrom contract is fraught with risk. If he is healthy, he opts out. If his injuries continue, or get worse, you are stuck for 22/23.
I don’t think you guys have enough talent to compete over the next two years. But you have a little talent in the minors, but nothing for 2022. I think it is a good year to defer the dream, and beef up your chances for 2023 and beyond.
With you all the way there. I was born the day they lost game 7 of the 1973 World Series. I gather I joined this earthly plane about three hours before the game started since I was here at 12:56pm ET and it was a West Coast day game, so I’m 1-3 in the WS in my lifetime. At this rate, I gather they’d make another one between 2028 and 2031 toward the tail end of Lindor’s contract, but I hope it’s a lot sooner than that.
When are the Marlins NOT in rebuild mode? What impact free agent is going to be willing to commit to 3+ years in that organization, in that ballpark? So unless they have more Yelich, Stanton and Ozuna-like players coming all at the same time, they will never contend. As soon as their decent homegrown players eligible, they will bail for any team that intends to compete.
I think the Padres are a bigger disappointment. NY is just a mess.
Is it rebuilding when a team dismantles every year? The Marlins are the creepy uncle who lives in the basement and promises his family “I’ll get better next year.”
If Marlins Fan Base is really a Marlins fan then why don’t I ever see him post on a Marlins subject and or player on MLBTR?
He just trolls the Mets post and should get on with his life
Don’t be a fan then. In any event you are not defending sone innocent party.
@CanoSucks
I’m there posting, usually after you’ve gone into hiding like your good buddy @whynot.
If you all are real Mets fans, why don’t you stick around through thick and thin. For all of the bashing that I and others do on @MetsFan22, at least he is loyal enough to the Mets to stick around and take it from us…unlike fairweather fans like yourself, @whynot (who is still MIA), and others who tend to disappear when the Mets are struggling.
@MarlinsFanBase
Unlike you I have a life outside of MLBTR and baseball and don’t need to prove my loyalty to you or anyone else. Dude unhappy people like you make the world a worse place to live.
I will pray for you…
@Canosucks
Interesting. Based on your posting habits, I guess that your life outside of MLBTR is non-existent when the Mets are doing well or when you’re looking for me. And you seem to be dedicated to show your loyalty to fellow Mets fans when the Mets are doing well. I guess that it’s just a coincidence that your like outside of MLBTR becomes more fulfilling when the Mets do poorly…and when they do poorly, you no longer need to show your loyalty.
Oh wait…also, if you’re not here from your fulfilling life outside of MLBTR, then how would you know where I am on this site? And why would you care how much I am on this site when it’s clear that I may have a life outside of this site that keeps me from being here as much as you are when your Mets are doing well?
And unhappy people like me make the world a worse place? Is this really coming from someone who made the point of creating a screen name of “Cano sucks”?
So much interesting stuff in your response.
Almora has not been the same since the foul ball that hit the child (and led mlb to start protecting fans). If you don’t think this bothered him, think again.
But this is utilizing critical thinking, rather difficult for most of you. But yes, continue w the unfunny jokes.
He stunk pretty badly before that incident tho…
Yeah, .282 career avg. before the foul ball hit the girl and ruined her life.
So sad for both player and fan.
While that’s a noble sounding sentiment, you have about as much idea that that’s true as I do. Which is to say no idea.
Why do you have to go from actually starting out with a fair point to being a complete jackass about it?
Almora has zero plate discipline, there is not a pitch he will not swing at. So as a pitcher why would you throw anything to him to hit we he has shown no ability to adjust? He is good for weak grounders and really easy to get him to chase pitches outside the zone.
Like I said 3-4 months ago, what was Almora doing on the roster? He was #5 after Pillar. They had McNeil who made 20+ starts in the OF. They had McKinney. And Almora brought no special skills that might make him value in unique circumstances.
One positive thing you can at least say is they managed to get an asset back for McKinney instead of just losing him on waivers
Should have let Almora go months back, rather than lose Fargas and McKinney.
While it basically would have just been rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic, it blows my mind that Almora spent so much time on the major league roster this season when he looked totally lost at the plate – even more so than his normal standard.
I wasn’t a big Davis fan coming into the season, and that hasn’t changed much, although I’m sure the hand injury had at least something to do with his lousy 2nd half performance. I still think he’s part of what needs to change with this team moving forward.
I’m curious to see what the return is for Davis, especially if the NL adopts the DH. BVW traded three young, mediocre prospects who are still heavier on potential than production. Could JD get moved for a legit setup man or starting pitcher?
Who wants a guy who spends most of his time on the IL? I wouldn’t trade anything for him.
Did you read the article? The dude can mash. Keep him as a DH with a less snakebitten organization and he’ll be a middle of the lineup bat.
JD Davis should have been moved at the deadline, probably to an AL club who could have hidden his flaws at DH for some games. Branch Rickey always tried to sell high so you would get stuck holding on too long. After the season they should Just be clearing space for Kris Bryant next year. Should have has him this season. Too late.
You want Bryant for the Mets? His agent will surely want North of 200m for a player that has been good but not performing at a superstar level.
A comparable player that’s not as good with the stick but better with the glove is Chris Taylor. His contract will be less years and much less AAV. Leaves money for a starter and the team won’t get stuck with paying Bryant for his end of career years.
Was Davis hurt at the deadline? I’ve been saying for over a year now though that Davis is a prime deadline trade bait. AL teams always overpay for guys like him mid season. But I think he’s been hurt most of the season. ….I’d rather Correa than Bryant.
Almora was not a defensive specialist with the Cubs. He just had the reputation around the league for whatever reason but he was incredibly mediocre with the glove, he made routine outs look like difficult catches. And his bat has always been trash.
Shocked it took the Mets this long to DFA Almora.
Mets fans blame the injuries for their season but in reality that’s what happens when you keep trying to fit fragile players into your lineup. Davis and Nimmo are always hurt and will always be hurt that’s what they do. They will take their rightful place on the IL year after year so please Met’s fans stop complaining about the injuries and start complaining about the fact that your team isn’t replacing the glass pieces on that team. It’s time to give up on the Nimmos and the JD Davises of the world. Stop trading your young position players for washed up has beens and maybe thing might get better.
They really need a Theo Epstein type in there to figure out whether or not they are contenders. They have players, but I question whether or not they fit together.
To me, it doesn’t look like a playoff team in 2022. DeGrom, who might not be healthy, and Walker, Megill and Carrasco, who might not be good, and maybe Syndergaard? That’s pretty mediocre. Alonso, Lindor, McCann, McNeil, Nimmo, Davis, and Davis are also pretty mediocre.
They have a shot at the WC, but I think the trade value of their 2023 FAs far exceeds the value of their chances at a WC. Offer Syndergaard & Conforto a QO, and trade DeGrom and Diaz. Them depending on whether you play well in the first half of 2022, trade off any other expiring contracts.
One of the greatest challenges for any front office that actually wants to contend, is honestly assessing the value of its own players. Who do you keep and build around and who do you market and flip for another missing piece?
It’s even deeper than that. First they have to decide if Mauricio is a SS. Then they need to decide if Vientos or Baty are 3Bs. If the answer is no, then they need to figure out what to do with those two guys, plus Alonso.
This is in addition to the existing questions about Smith, Davis, and Nimmo. It feels a bit like SD where you have a lot of talent, but maybe not a team. A good GM should be able to project out 6 years or so.
Rojas completely missed on when to play Davis this year while focused on left/right match ups. Davis hits righties better than lefties and he has sat on the bench while the season unraveled.
Sadly, I think he’s traded this off season, but hopefully he brings us a centerfielder or pitching. His plus side value is diminishing as each year passes.
If he goes to an AL team, he’ll be an impact player. Maybe we can flip him there for a centerfielder?
Not sure there are any CF available, let alone coming back for Davis. Elite CF require a strong package.