Mets left-hander Adam Kolarek rejected an outright assignment to Triple-A Syracuse after clearing waivers and elected free agency, per the transaction log at MiLB.com. Outfielder Abraham Almonte, also designated by the Mets over the weekend, went unclaimed and has been assigned outright to Syracuse as well. Like Kolarek, Almonte has the right to elect free agency, but there’s no indication yet that he’s chosen to do so.
Kolarek, 34, now stands as an interesting, last-minute depth addition for playoff hopefuls seeking to stockpile bullpen arms in advance of Friday’s postseason eligibility deadline. The sidearm southpaw has appeared in parts of seven big league seasons, logging a combined 3.62 ERA with a well below-average 15.9% strikeout rate but strong command (6.8% walk rate) and a mammoth 63.9% ground-ball rate. He’s tossed six shutout innings with a 7-to-1 K/BB ratio between the Dodgers and Mets in 2023, plus another 35 1/3 innings of 2.55 ERA ball in Triple-A (albeit with an uncharacteristic 13.5% walk rate in that time).
Kolarek struggled with the A’s in 2021-22 (5.74 ERA in 26 2/3 innings) but has had success at every other stop in his big league career, including with the Rays, Dodgers (two stints) and Mets. He’s not a hard thrower (as is the case with most sidearmers), but he’s held opponents to an ugly 87.2 mph exit velocity in his career and allowed less than a third of the batted balls against him at 95 mph or more — both strong marks. He’ll presumably draw some interest on a minor league deal from a playoff hopeful, and with rosters set to expand to 28 players on Friday, a return path to the big leagues could be all the more realistic.
As for the 34-year-old Almonte, he went 1-for-15 with eight punchouts in 16 plate appearances with the Mets. The journeyman outfielder has suited up for eight teams in parts of 11 seasons at the MLB level. He’s typically been a reserve outfielder, never topping 258 plate appearances in a season, and is a career .233/.300/.371 batter in 1379 plate appearances. Almonte is a lifetime .287/.388/.493 hitter in parts of nine Triple-A seasons, including a .228/.331/.564 slash in 118 plate appearances with Syracuse this season.
So…keep Drew Smith and let Kolarek go. Can the Amazin’s be any more amazing? Can 2023 get anymore phucked up?
The Met’s 2023 season was over weeks if not months ago. They have pivoted to 2024 and other teams like the Angels and Padres should have done the same. The Mets will likely be much better next year and hopefully learned a lesson about pursuing such a top heavy approach.
Agree with you brooklyn62 , Drew Smith has been really bad this season . Keep Kolarek and dump smith . Drew is done in my opinion .
You could have traded this guy to the Cubs for Drew Smyly.
Agreed Brooklyn62 , seems like Kolarek should stay and smith needs to go , head scratcher of the week decision there. Idk
Kolarek is a 34 year old who hasn’t pitched more than 19 innings in a season in four years. He’s not good or reliable and his 4.2 innings pitched for the Mets doesn’t change that.
While Drew Smith has not been good this year, he’s still been average and has been good as recently as last year (and was great in 2021). Further, he’s dependable and five years younger with good K numbers.
A lot of people complaining about Kolarek when he’s pitched 4.2 innings for the Mets. I don’t get it. This is a standard move that any team would make. The Dodgers, who are a very well run organization, gave Kolarek away for cash. Why are we chastizing the Mets for also dumping him?
@rct if you actually watch the games, Drew Smith pitches well in garbage time. When the game is close, he blows it up with a homer. I’ve been saying this for 4 years already. The stats don’t do him justice, he stinks
He’s 34 years old. They are doing him a favor letting him out on the market to get himself into the playoffs potentially.
Pick him up, Hazen.
RIP Pat Corrales.
RIP 2023 Mets
I remember him as a pretty decent catcher with the Phils,but I also. remember the sad moment when his wife died right after childbirth.
Back to the dodgers Adam.
And maybe Tyler Anderson too.
Anderson is so bad now that the Dodgers declined getting him on waivers and already netting a comp pick for him
Anderson pretty much sucked before the Dodgers had him last time too. Maybe he’d be good again in LA.
Would ne help for an overworked bullpen which is why the Reds will pass him by like so many others.
Cool to see if the Rays could make him interesting, like they kind of fixed Zach Littell, and Robert Stephenson.
Good luck Adam. I thought you were a good pickup. I’m confused about why you are not on the team anymore.