The Mets have designated outfielder Ender Inciarte for assignment, tweets Tim Healey of Newsday. The move clears an active roster spot for second baseman Jeff McNeil, who’d be on paternity leave. New York’s 40-man roster tally drops to 39.
New York signed Inciarte to a minor league contract last month, then selected him to the majors not long after. The move afforded the club a defense-oriented depth outfielder while Travis Jankowski was on the injured list, but the latter returned a few days ago. Jankowski will reassume his role as the speed and glove option off the bench, while Inciarte’s time in the organization could come to a close.
Inciarte appeared in 11 games for the Mets, primarily as a late-game defensive substitute. He tallied eight plate appearances, his first MLB action of the season. Prior to latching on with the Mets, he’d spent the 2022 campaign on a minor league deal with the Yankees. Through 34 Triple-A games in the Yankees’ system, he hit a decent .252/.336/.408 with four home runs and stolen bases apiece.
The past few seasons have been a struggle for Inciarte, who combined excellent defense with near league average hitting at his peak with the D-Backs and Braves. Going back to the start of the 2020 campaign, the left-handed hitter owns a .197/.262/.271 line across 228 plate appearances. He’s continued to make a fair amount of contact, but his ball-in-play results have dropped precipitously.
The Mets will have a week to trade the three-time Gold Glove winner or place him on waivers. The latter course of action seems likely, and Inciarte would have the right to refuse an outright assignment in favor of free agency if he passes through unclaimed.
Jankowski is useless too
He got off to a great start, but since that DH I. ATL in May, he’s been on the skids…
He’s reverting back to normal.
Sorry guy
The Ender road. Mets legend.
It’s bizarre how Ender just forgot how to hit a baseball.
He always seemed like one of those guys who hit better in the second half, but like Brian Dozier (another such hitter), teams aren’t going to wait that long into a season to see if you will start hitting.
Centerfield in Atlanta does that to guys. BJ Upton forgot how to hit and before him Pirates legend Nate McClouth did the same. Jason Heyward played some CF too and we all now how well that’s worked out.
Good luck to him. Made a great catch during his brief time w/ NY
Ender the GOAT, hope somebody picks him up.
Keeping that 40th spot open for Jake when he returns.
Unfortunately for Inciarte, he’s now at this stage of his career. Someone will always want you as depth, but you’ll be back on the waiver wire in short order.
McNeil. Paternity leave. Hmm. Scuffling here of late at the plate, did the Mets encourage him to take it? You know, getaway for a few days. I can hear awe shucks Buck now, “Congrats, now go on and celebrate with family and while there, have some fun. Maybe break out the clubs and hit the links a couple times. You deserve it, young man. We’ll see you back here soon enough; for now enjoy a little r & r”
Nah. More like his wife had a baby.
Or maybe his wife gave birth?
@VonPurpleHays & jyosuckas: yes, of course. Biggest moment in a young couples life. I know it was for me back in the day. Peace. Cheers!
What an ignorant comment. If you’ve ever had any kids, you’d know how draining it is emotionally. Those few weeks before and after the child is born are very intense. It’s very easy to understand how an athlete in any sport can be extremely distracted during these time periods.
@Lyman Bostock: thanks for the feedback. I enjoy following your posts. In hindsight, yes, way too much “tongue” and not nearly enough “cheek” in what I shared. Should have put things in to context. That Fox guy’s (Covina sp?) harsh criticism of Jeff is what triggered me. My point was meant to be that the Mets had “his back” 100%. And I kinda thought Buck would be the messenger.
All that jargon I threw in there about how I pictured Jeff enjoying the celebration of a new life and how & why his employer suggested to go about it, was based on personal experience (it’s been 30 +/- yrs now). That said, I did take leave. I did have wonderful quality time with my wife + new born daughter and new born son … and in both cases my MOTHER-IN-LAW, but also, I sure as heck had plenty of time for diversionary activity as well … and at the encouragement of wife and mother-in-law. Mine wasn’t golf, it was hanging out at the pari mutual window at Pimlico. I referenced golf in the share because it is my understanding that Jeff is one hell of a baseball player, but an even better golfer.
For me to assume how Jeff would celebrate the birth of his child and how his employer would encourage him to do so was wrong. Poor form on my part. Thanks for calling me on it! Best wishes.
@Lyman to be fair, it was clearly meant in jest.
I’d have preferred to keep Inciarte over Jankowski.
Jankowski is much better
Jankowski played a bit over his head at the beginning of the season, but his speed and versatility helps.
Yea, Jankowski is only good by the standards of 5th outfielder but I give him a bit of an edge over Inciarte.
But there’s all those t-shirts at stake. Plus TJ is the way better base runner at this point. TJ can still steal bases at an elite level. Ender cannot
I’d love for him to stick with the Mets. Always appreciated what he brings to the game and how hard he plays. Whatever happens, best of luck to him.
The Phillies should be calling the Mets right away. A few cheesesteak vouchers should be enough to get him.
No thanks. Sometimes one man’s trash is also another man’s trash. No disrespect meant to Ender who was a great talent at one point.
I don’t think anyone is going to claim him
Guys got it wrong here. Hitters don’t forget how to hit. Pitchers and even more so, front offices learn how to pitch to them and adapt/ shift defenses. They discover holes in the swing and pitch to that location while also trying ways that work to disrupt timing. More hitters seem to bound on the scene only to flame out quickly these days. Technology at work.
This guy looks like Joey Gallo without the wild hair.
Didn’t really need him
Part of what could be the worst trade ever in the MLB, Ender and Dansby Swanson from the DBACKS for Shelby Miller who I think is out of baseball, if you’re wondering why the DBACKS always suck
Got tb be improvement over Mr. Davis of the Brewers! A good cheap tryout solution! Do IT!