The Mets have designated catcher Tyler Heineman for assignment, the club announced. The move creates a spot on the 40-man roster for Adam Ottavino, who has officially signed his one-year deal to return to the club.
Heineman’s time as a Met might come to an end before he has a chance to appear in a game. New York claimed him from the Blue Jays on December 1. After two months on the roster, he’ll find himself traded or back on waivers within the next week.
A switch-hitter, Heineman has appeared at the MLB level in four of the last five seasons. He has logged 104 contests split between four teams. Heineman had brief stints with the Marlins and Giants and sandwiched appearances in Toronto around some time with the Pirates. He’s a career .218/.297/.282 hitter in the majors, including a .237/.383/.316 slash over 47 plate appearances a year ago.
The UCLA product spent the bulk of last season in Triple-A, where he ran a .230/.352/.319 batting line. He owns a more impressive .276/.350/.402 showing over parts of eight campaigns at the top minor league level. That track record has gotten him a few looks at the back of various clubs’ rosters. Heineman still has one option year remaining, so another team could keep him in Triple-A if they’re willing to give him a 40-man spot.
New York is now down to two catchers on the 40-man: Francisco Álvarez and Omar Narváez. The latter has been the subject of trade speculation but could be difficult to move on a $7MM salary. New York has Tomás Nido and recent signee Austin Allen as non-roster players who’ll likely be in MLB camp.
I get we have to drop someone, but why the heck is short or even reid-foley not the first to be dropped… seriously!!!
I’d drop Walker before Reid-Foley.
A career slugging percentage of 0.282 gets you tossed on your Heinie.
But that homer he hit was just a tremendous blast should have garnered more attention.
Zack is more than he appears. He can play any position above average defensively. He can pinch run. He has surprising pop in his bat. Don’t sell him short!
Maybe. But it hard to see him winning a roster spot unless there’s an injury, or Stearns backtracks on his commitment to give Baty a chance at the 3B job. Either is still possible. But if neither of those things happens, Short is out of options and will then have to be designated, anyway.
Well you know the jays are gonna claim him now
Hope his heinie isn’t aching over the situation. P.s. I apologize to the man for writing this.
LOL METS.
I knew this was going to happen when the Mets grabbed him. I wonder if the Jays will get him back. Heineman is nice to have as backup. Another team might take him first.
Switch hitting catcher? Rays all over this
No. Brantly is going to get the platoon.
Dude is gonna mash in Korea.
Why keep Austin Allen? Isn’t Heinemann a good receiver/framer?
Austin Allen can’t be is not on the Mets’ 40-man roster. He’s on a minor league contract and was assigned to Syracuse.
Hunh. I thought it’d be one of the bullpen guys … Kranick or Garrett or Reid-Foley.
Get him back, Jays!
He can always report to Syracuse, and hope not to get mugged