TODAY: Nogosek has elected to become a free agent after turning down the outright assignment, according to multiple reports.
JUNE 13: The Mets have sent a pair of recently-designated relievers through waivers. Veteran righty Tommy Hunter has been released, while right-hander Stephen Nogosek was sent outright to Triple-A Syracuse, tweets Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.
Hunter appeared in 14 games for the Mets this season after cracking the roster out of Spring Training. He allowed just under seven earned runs per nine innings over 23 2/3 frames. Home runs were the biggest culprit, as Hunter surrendered six longballs in 106 batters faced. He had a similarly high home run rate in 22 1/3 innings last year but found more success keeping runs off the board in 2022.
While it hasn’t been a banner season for the 36-year-old, he’s been an effective middle innings arm for the bulk of his career. Hunter has consistently shown excellent control, and this season’s 4.7% walk rate remains stellar. He’s only punched out 18.9% of opponents but had a decent 23.4% strikeout percentage a season ago. He figures to land a minor league deal elsewhere now that he’s back on the open market.
Nogosek cleared waivers after a similar start to the year. The out-of-options hurler posted a 5.61 ERA across 25 2/3 frames. He’s also allowed a half-dozen homers, though Nogosek’s strikeout and walk numbers (21.2% and 11.9%, respectively) are each above Hunter’s rates.
This is the second time the Oregon product has gone unclaimed on waivers in his career. The Mets also successfully outrighted him over the 2019-20 offseason. He’d therefore have the right to decline the assignment in favor of free agency.
Ok
The Mets keep garbage as usual. Do we really need Dennis Santana, Nogosek, Ucenta, Mukenhirm etc. in our minor league system? Give other guys a chance. I swear to God that Billy Eppler doesn’t have a clue. Go out and sign Zack Britton and Ken Giles to minor league deals. Yes I know they haven’t been good in recent years but atleast they have a track record of success. If these guys they have in their system have never been good, what makes Eppler think they will be good as a Met. I just don’t get it. I would rather they trade for some actually major league relief but, they might as well fill out Triple A with guys that have had proven track records
Unless you have built a time machine that you plan on lending to Eppler, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Giles on June 4
@LFG, only 10% of minor leaguers see even a day in the major leagues. Teams need to fill 150 minor league roster slots. Those players you mentioned are “AAAA” players, good enough to be in the 10% to make a MLB roster for a day or week etc, but not good enough to establish themselves as MLB players. Every team has them at AAA and even AA. Their existence isn’t keeping a prospect down or keeping a team from signing a better player. They are just keeping a roster space warm, filling out a minor league roster spot and hoping for another chance at a day on an MLB roster. Eppler might or might not be doing things wrong, but having “AAAA” players around isn’t one of them.
These transactions are lottery tickets. Or, feel good pills for the GM.
“Hey, I did something today. I feel great!”
A quick morale boost for when a losing streak has you down.
“It might not make a difference, but today, I made the difference. Without me, this would not have happened.”
Surprised they didn’t at least give him a few games at shortstop before just releasing him, given their need there.
What a stunningly stupid comment.
Nah, not “stunningly stupid”. It was a decent attempt at parody or sarcasm, didn’t quite hit the punch line but made a good enough observation about the state of the position. Obviously he is joking (not that I think you don’t know that.) I’ll give it a B- which is higher than any of my grades at my 2 years at university.
No worries. 2 less arsonists in the bullpen.
Nogosek should have been released. Can’t stand Buck’s fascination in bringing him in tough situations.