The Mets announced some roster moves today, placing infielder Mark Vientos on the 10-day injured list due to left wrist tendonitis, retroactive to August 16. Outfielder Abraham Almonte has been selected to take his place on the active roster. To open a spot for Almonte on the 40-man, left-hander Josh Walker has been transferred to the 60-day injured list.
Almonte, 34, has been on and off the Mets’ roster lately. Signed to a minor league deal in the offseason, he was brought up to the big leagues last week before being designated for assignment and outrighted a few days later after taking just 12 plate appearances in four games. He has enough service time that he could have rejected the outright assignment but seems to have accepted and will now make a quick return to the majors.
Prior to getting called up, he was having a strong season in the minors. He hit .244/377/.548 in 167 plate appearances, walking at an 18% clip and producing a wRC+ of 128. He’s often hit well in the minors but has struggled to replicate that production in the majors. Dating back to 2013, he’s hit .234/.301/.373 for a wRC+ of 82 in 1,375 trips to the plate in the show. He figures to join the outfield mix alongside Brandon Nimmo, DJ Stewart, Rafael Ortega and Tim Locastro.
Vientos has always crushed minor league pitching but has hit just .188/.240/.286 in his first 167 major league appearances. Despite that tepid output, the Mets will be challenged to cover third base in his absence with Eduardo Escobar having been traded to the Angels and Brett Baty also on the IL. Some combination of Jonathan Araúz, Danny Mendick and Jeff McNeil figure to be slotted into that position as well as second base. It’s unclear how long Vientos is expected to be out for.
Walker, 28, was first added to the club’s roster in May. He’s since made 13 appearances with an ERA of 8.10 in that small sample. He landed on the injured list a few days ago due to a right oblique strain and it seems it’s significant enough to end his season. Today’s transfer means he’s ineligible to return until the middle of October. Barring a miracle postseason run by the Mets, he won’t be back this year.
Has anybody here seen my old friend Abraham?
Jesus Aguilar, Moses Walker and Abraham Almonte walk into a bar . . . Much to their shock, the bartender is Corbin Burnes.
No, they walk into the bar and become Bibulous.
Great player to remember for Immacualte Grid.
used him on today’s grid actually
Vientos looks badly overmatched. Could be pressing and adjustment. Too early to conclude 4A. But he’s been a listless automatic out the ABs I’ve seen
He’s bad. I don’t mind if I never see him or Baty in a NY Mets uniform ever again.
He’s only 23 and was crushing AAA. Let’s give him more than 100 ABs to figure it out.
We thought Amos Otis was a 4A player until he became an AllStar on KC
You have to give him a chance ti adjust and acclimate. Somebody please pull up Mike Schmidt’s 1972 introduction to the big leagues followed by his 1973 full season. The Phillies had patience wirh their prospecr back rhen and
You have to give Baty a chance to adjust and acclimate. Somebody please pull up Mike Schmidt’s 1972 introduction to the big leagues followed by his 1973 full season. The Phillies had patience with their prospect back then and he came thru for then BIG TIME. But after 1973 he had batted a combined .197, and an OPS of .690.
Remember, according to most highly online Mets fans losing/playing bad players is a part of a masterful plan. Things are running very differently now! Go Mets 2042
Mets fan here. Deck chairs. Titanic. Yadda Yadda
Mets Taylor Motter.
I was just reading about Abe Almonte on Wikipedia, and i’ve got to give him credit for beating alcoholism and sticking in the big leagues for 11 seasons.
Baty is not on the IL. He’s in the minors.
This sounds like whiplash for Almonte. Wasn’t he just designated?
Yes, and I guess they needed a warm body off the street to fill a roster spot. This guy was horrible in the outfield with no arm . Management must be desperate, you’d think someone better could be out there. Been a sad season.
Alliteration wins.
Abraham Almonte alliteration, apparently
I guess they’re trying for that top 6 pick. Good for them.
Oh the Mets…just need a pitcher who can pitch, relievers that can relieve (other than on themselves)hitters that can hit and a 3b that can field. No worries
They should trade for JD Davis. 😉
Not like they have a promising young utility guy like, idk, Ronny Mauricio or anything. Call him up already. I don’t understand why these young guys can’t get chances. Heck call up Lavender while they are at it too. Hes pitched good out of the bullpen all year in the minors. Give the young guys a chance
You will see Mauricio in Maybe 2 weeks when the rosters expand to 28. He has ‘t learned the outfield yet, and 2nd base seems like his best defensive position right now. They really jerked him around this year in Syracuse. And Lavender is the best of the motley crew down there on the mound. But they’ll leave him there, and probably bring up Brigham in order to make a decision to keep or toss before next year. Or maybe Reid-Foley for the same reason. Keep or cut bait