The Mets are designating reliever T.J. McFarland for assignment, general manager Billy Eppler told reporters (including Tim Healey of Newsday). The vacated roster spot will go to José Quintana, who is being reinstated from the 60-day injured list.
McFarland signed a minor league pact with New York over the winter. He spent the bulk of the season with Triple-A Syracuse, posting a 2.76 ERA through 32 2/3 innings. The veteran southpaw issued a few too many walks but struck out over a quarter of opponents and induced grounders at a massive 62.8% rate. The Mets added him to the MLB roster late last month.
New York only used him three times before today’s DFA. He’ll now be traded or waived within the next week. McFarland struggled to a 6.61 ERA across 32 2/3 frames for the Cardinals last season but posted a strong 2.56 mark the year before. He has always been adept at keeping the ball on the ground and had good enough minor league numbers to potentially attract interest from another club.
Quintana is tabbed for next Wednesday’s start against the White Sox, tweets David Lennon of Newsday. His club debut is still a little less than a week off, but the Mets had to activate him today. Pitchers are allotted 30 days on a rehab stint. Quintana began his minor league work on June 13, leaving New York to make the roster move a few days earlier than they’ll press the veteran southpaw into action.
Signed to a two-year free agent contract, Quintana was delayed by a Spring Training rib injury that required surgery. He posted a 2.93 ERA in 32 starts between the Pirates and Cardinals last season.
Mozeliak is ready to pounce on this one!
I came here to say exactly that! The “big move” at the deadline is all but done.
Nah the Rockies will be all over him first
The Mets arson squad carousel continues…
With his history of trading excellent players for spare parts, I might even give ole John Mozeliak a call myself. Maybe I can acquire an All Star 3b, for appearances at my neice’s birthday party next weekend. It shouldn’t cost too much, right?
Do you own any vintage bow ties that you would be willing to trade?
My good friend Ken Rosenthal has a closet full of bow ties for you.
Don’t understand how Drew Smith keeps getting passed by. I’d rather have Brigham and McFarland over him on the team. I guess thats what happens when morons are in charge of an organization. The problems are staring at them right in front of their face. Vogelbach, Drew Smith, Carrasco, Leone etc. I watch the games, I can see the problems, I’m not a GM. Why can I see the issues but the GM of the team who is making millions cant? Billy InEppler
Drew Smith might need a restraining order. You sound like a jilted lover that can’t get over him.
Drew Smith’s low 3’s career ERA is so terrible…
@carlos15 yeah look at the stats, not the game. You dont know anything
@LFGMets (Metsin7)
It’s amazing that, no matter who some of us root for as our favorite team, that we get surprised how similarly frustrated some of us get at the fans that only look at stats and don’t take into account what the eyeball test says.
Even with stats, I’m shaking my head at the defense of an RP is ERA. For all of us that watch the game, you and I know that there’s been many RPs in the history of the game that had strong ERAs, but couldn’t hold a lead to save their lives. And the eyeball test let’s us see the RPs who soil their pants while on the mound, while stats don’t show that for RPs.
This reminds me of so many discussions I’ve had or fans have had. Last year, it was when the Marlins traded Anthony Bass to the Blue Jays and I was celebrating. Some fan said something insulting to me as well and cited Bass’ stats. I stated at the deadline that I guarantee that Bass would implode at the worse moment because he panics under pressure, which is easily seen with the eyeball test. Those Blue Jays fans had nothing to say after their team was eliminated in a very well televised game, with Bass having his signature moment.
From experience, all you can do is make your statements, and call out the bashers when what you are stating proves to be true later on (or even immediately).
@MarlinsFanBase I 100% agree with everythung you said. You know whats funny, if you look at tonight’s Mets game, Leone and Drew Smith came in and blew the game wide open. I said this before the game started. Us fans who actually watch the games know whats right. Also, Drew Smith gave up 3 walks and 2 hits, only 1 run allowed because the fielders made spectacular plays to save him. Its ridiculous how some of these fans defend their front offices
What sort of salary or payment do you receive for your eyeball test scouting or opinions?
Because that’s exactly what they’re worth.
I have MLBtv so I watch every game. I’m not saying Smith is good. I’m just pointing out that you only have negative things to say about the team and some unhealthy obsession with Drew Smith and Billy Eppler.
Smith is struggling without sticky hands. Just as Scherzer.
@raisinsss if your asking about scouting ability when it comes to prospects, I have none. If your asking me about constructing a good baseball team, I’m easily better than Eppler. He doesn’t even have to worry about money restraints, he has an open checkbook and still losses
@LFGMets (Metsin7)
Yes, I see how you did post that before the game results. Sadly, I know that feeling and pain from the last 2 years as a Marlins fan. It sucks when you see what is obvious to your favorite team, but then homers around you don’t.
And I think we both can agree about how impactful the Mets bullpen woes has hurt the team significantly. Just looking at the NL East so far this season, anyone can see the impact that bullpen has to a team…just looking at the Mets and Marlins seasons so far. I remember the last two years, there were certain Mets fans, probably some of the sme ones arguing with you about Flexen, etc., that essentially said that I was wrong (euphemism) thinkiong that all the Marlins needed to add was a Closer and it would magically win them a lot more games from where they were. While people look at the addition of Arraez as being huge for the Marlins, I add that acquiring AJ Puk and Matt Barnes were nearly just as impactful, due to Puk (while not an elite) has been a solid Closer so far and stabilized the bullpen along with a sort of ‘floating Closer’ in Barnes. This year, the Marlins are holding leads and keeping teams from scoring in tied games in teh late innings, which wasn’t the case the last two years. With the Mets, we see the opposite thing happened. You guys loss your Clsoer for the year. Your bullpen has been in shambles, and been a part of the problem that involves not holding leads, not keeping teams from scoring in tied games, and not keeping close games close so your team can come back. And then there is that other thing with certain bad relievers who have good ERAs, in that, while they may sustain good ERAs, they have many innings that aren’t clean that lead to the opposing lineup rolling over to get to the big bats that the next reliever has to deal with. I’m stunned how so many people can’t see how that takes a lot of wins away from a team…especially in our division with so many games, regardless of opponent, being tight all the time – whether you’re facing the Braves or the Nats. In our division, we all know that teams smell blood and pounce, especially the Braves. You can’t have vital weaknesses.
But of course, I’m talking about things that we see with the eyeball test that these other fans can’t see in stats.
And this is even before I get into the psychological advantage that the Braves have over all four of the rest of our teams in teh division, But of course, the stats guys will say that there is no such thing…despite the game being played by human beings instead of video game AI robots.
@DaOldDerbyBastard
I get some of your point, but I can’t understand how anyone could bash someone for calling out Eppler’s faliures.
Before you knock someone for doing that, take these bits of information into perspective.
1 – As been chronicled and said here as well, Eppler is working with practically unlimited funds to add players, and an owner that treats his team like MLB the Show with settings to the Mets having no budget and everyone else having them. I’m sorry, but that alone makes all bashing of Eppler justified considering the Mets season. The only thing I’d add is calling out the fact that you guys may have the wrong type of fan owner because it seems very clear that Cohen of the Mets is nothing like Micky Arison of the NBA’s Miami Heat. Owners that are fans of their own team are hit or miss propositions.
2 – Let’s note that Eppler has a fourth place team so far that has a payroll that is significantly higher than the combined payrolls of the current NL League Wild Card leading teams in the Diamondbacks, Marlins and Reds. We’re talking about well over $50 million more spent on the Mets than those three NL teams combined…and the Mets are still about 7 1/2 games out of the third spot, and may be sellers at the deadline if something drastic doesn’t start happening in the next couple of weeks for the Mets to cut that deficit.
3 – The Mets have more payroll than the combined payrolls of the Orioles, Rays, Marlins and Reds. Or you can replace any of these teams with the Diamondbacks. Seriously, Eppler shouldn’t be called out or bashed when this is the case with his team versus these contending teams that are among the top tier of teams this year in MLB? Can you imagine those teams taking the best of their rosters and putting them on one roster, which will be decisively better than the Mets and still a whole lot cheaper. How does Eppler not get bashed for that?
I can go on about not understanding how anyone could knock someone for calling out Eppler’s failures.
@MarlinsFanBase honestly, I think the bullpen is the most important part of a team in todays game. Without a good bullpen, you aren’t winning anything. All it takes is one guy to come in and blow up the game. You are 100% right
I don’t care for Eppler or Smith. It just gets old reading his crap every day.
So Billy Eppler performed Timmy John Surgery, removing a foreign body from the roster.
The way they are playing opening up the second half, can a reconstructive surgery be far behind?
what???!!!!
Roster reconstruction surgery. Carve up the roster and sell off usable parts. Plan and build for 2024.
This team is lifeless, and is closer to the bottom of the wild card standings than the top. St Louis is already talking realistically. Mets should be too.
There is no way they can sustain any streak to get them past the 6 other teams ahead of them into a wild card position.
So Steve C and Billy E and Buck S need to work on what is needed for 2024.
Now that he’s no longer a Met, either the Dodgers or Braves will puck him up and he’ll be sub 3.50 the rest of the year.
Nobody wanted McFarland. He’s back in Syracuse
Met fans: How much faith do you have in Quintana?
Little to none.
Some. He’s been a sound starter for most of his career, and had a fine year in 2022. It all depends on his recovery from surgery and if it affects his motion.