The Mets have claimed righty Michael Tonkin off waivers from the Twins, per a team announcement. Left-hander Tyler Jay was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.
It’s in many ways a reversal of some recent bullpen-related transactions in Queens. New York designated Tonkin for assignment on April 5, traded him to the Twins for cash, and less than a week later selected the contract of Jay (a former Twins top prospect himself). Minnesota designated Tonkin for assignment a second time after he made just one appearance.
Both Tonkin and Jay were original Twins draftees — Tonkin in the 30th round in 2008 and Jay with the No. 6 overall pick in 2015. The 34-year-old Tonkin has allowed 10 runs in six innings between the Mets and Twins this year, though only four of them have been earned. He’s whiffed eight of 33 opponents and walked three, although he’s also plunked three batters in his tiny sample of innings.
Tonkin spent the 2023 season in the Braves’ bullpen, logging a 4.28 ERA, 24.2% strikeout rate and 9.1% walk rate in 80 innings. That set a new career-high MLB workload for the journeyman right-hander, who owns a career 4.42 ERA (4.55 FIP, 3.70 SIERA) with a 23.1% strikeout rate, 8% walk rate and 39.7% grounder rate in 232 1/3 big league innings between Minnesota, Atlanta and New York. Tonkin has also pitched in the D-backs and Brewers systems in addition to stints with the independent Atlantic League’s Long Island Ducks, the Mexican League’s Toros de Tijuana, and the Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan.
As for Jay, his major league debut came far, far later than most would’ve expected when he was taken sixth overall as a high-profile college arm out of the University of Illinois. A former top-100 prospect, he’s been slowed by shoulder and neck troubles throughout his career and notably underwent thoracic outlet surgery back in 2017, costing him a year of his career. Jay never tossed more than 83 2/3 innings in any of his seasons with the Twins before being cut loose during the canceled 2020 minor league season. He didn’t pitch at all in 2021 and spent the 2022-23 seasons with the Joliet Slammers of the independent Frontier League.
His work with the Slammers earned him a look in the Mets’ system late last year. He re-signed on a minor league deal over the winter, tossed 5 2/3 shutout frames in Triple-A Syracuse to begin the season, and allowed one run on five hits and a walk in his first four MLB frames with the Mets. Jay only struck out one of the 18 batters he faced but also recorded an outstanding 66.7% ground-ball rate. New York will have a week to trade Jay, attempt to pass him through outright waivers, or release him.
Wait! What?
Don’t even need him w/ ReidFolley back this weekend they might just be passing him through waivers again
Why did the Twins pay the Mets for one outing from Tonkin and DFA him? Hoping he clears wavers? Mets can now sell his contract again to another bidder. Maybe they make millions reselling Tonkin’s contract all year haha
I don’t think they’re selling him for more than a symbolic figure, but it would be hilarious if Tonkin keeps getting shuffled around the league and ending back up on the Mets over and over.
Twins had a problem with the AAA shuttle where the required days between trips and their recent spate of injuries left a gap and there was no one on the 40 man to cover the spot. They were looking at either moving someone on to the 40 man from the minors and then having 41 guys there when someone came off a few days later or grab a temporary arm from outside the org to cover things for a few days. Tonkin knew the situation when he was signed..
But yes, having him travel the league drawing checks from dozens of MLB and AAA teams in one season would be a hoot. “Michael, what are your top ten hotel chain points programs?”
Jays should claim Jay.
Jay deserves a chance some where.
He paid his dues.
Personally I think he’s better than Tonkin.
The game within the game.
Next man up after Tyler Jay is Tyler Kay.
He’s back baby!! Bring out the Tonkin Truck!
downgrade
Not the same vibe in Queens as 2 weeks ago.
Nope haven’t been seeing to many lolmets lately
I like Tonkin better than SRF, Hartwig, and Drew Smith but thats not saying much. I’d rather them call up Fujinami. Fujinami should be the setup guy right now, I don’t know what Stearns is thinking
Hartwig is just here as a fill-in. He will be riding the quad-A shuttle back to Syracuse once Tonkin arrives.
SRF is still on the IL, but should be coming off soon. We’ll see how the Mets handle that one.
Smith is out of options, and pitching better this year, anyway. So he’s not going anywhere.
In 4 IP, Fujinami has walked 7 and he’s needed 95 pitches to get through those. He hasn’t appeared in a game lately, so they’re probably trying to fix something in his delivery. Either way, he’s not a factor right now.
@geofft I am very high on Fujinami. He just needs to get warmed up. Hes obviously a slow starter. I’d rather him be up here over Drew Smith. Smith’s ERA is only low because he gives up inherited runners. Hes awful in crunch time. He throws well in garbage time, I’ve been saying this for 4 years already
can you atleast get your facts straight. For any of their regular relievers (including closers) Drew gave up the smallest percentage of runner scored for the team but someone watching EVERY game would know that.
Is drew a great reliever no, is he solid for the middle innings yes. I thought he could push into the 7th or 8th innings but he is not good for that 5 6 and if needed on occasion 7 is where he should be. Its funny the pitchers you hated most are the ones that let the fewest inherited runners score.(raley and drew).
BTW where is brigham he was supposed to be highlight of the bp you said last year. Is Fujinari your next pick to be great?
Dont worry daddy drew will be back home with the milk eventually. probably not though.
You can be as high on him as you’d like. But the fact is that he’s always had command issues. The other fact is that, whether we like it or not, options are a factor. Especially with relievers. Especially early in the season. The vast majority of them are unreliable. So the ones with options get sent down or ride the 4A shuttle until we see which of the others play their way out of the equation.
@Roll Thanks for your post… this irrational hatred of Drew Smith…just look at Drew’s numbers and he cost us nothing to get and not much to keep!
Did Drew steal his girlfriend or something?
You called it right he is good where you pegged him and just cause Mets GMs screw up stop blaming guys from being elevated past what they are!
@LFGMets
SRF is out of options, so he’ll most likely be replacing Hartwig shortly. Stearns is thinking of stockpiling depth, like he should be. I know you don’t like Smith (the worst reliever in the history of baseball), but he’s been good so far this year. Thank goodness you’re on here instead of running the Mets.
@mookie1 if I was running the Mets, we’d be in first place right now and win over 110 games. We have the highest payroll in MLB history and the team looks pathetic
The Mets look pathetic? Have you been watching them at all? Just admit your wrong and move along.
LFG Then go run a team and get the hell off here. You’re a blowhard idiot.
Fuji is a slow starter and finisher. Dude has no idea where his 100 mph heater is going. Great thrower but a pretty bad pitcher
You’re a troll, not a Mets fan. Get rid of the moniker.
@mookie1 In all likelihood, Hartwig will be gone before SRF returns in order to make room for Tonkin. Still anyone’s guess who goes when SRF returns. Reed Garrett is the only one with options, but he’s been pitching so well. .
@geofft
You’re right. Stearns will have to pull an Eppler, because I can’t see them sending Garrett down. Otherwise,the most likely odd man out is actually Tonkin.
Then Smith? You watching Met games?
Fujinami’s mechanics are all over the place, and that is why he’s got a million dollar arm getting 10 cent results. He needs not to just warm up in the minors. He needs to figure out how to consistently harness his abilities. You don’t need a setup man walking the bases loaded.
And as far as Tonkin, he pitched Mets 1 and Twins 1 unfocused. He needs to bear down a little more and have a plan on where he wants his pitches to go and then focus on completing that vision. Let’s hope Tonkin Mets v2 is better.
He’s thinking that Mt. Fuji still walks the ballpark. What are you thinking?
You say Goodbye but Tonkin says Hello
Mets claim one bum , send another bum down
means while those “bums” are a top pitching staff
Mets claim anyone, bums make bum comments
We should see if we can get Austin Adams back.
Im a little surprised. I guess they are betting on upside. A pulse and lefty usually gets you cracks and some staying power on rosters. Doesnt strike out but grounders are pretty good if you have a decent defense. I guess with Diekman they didnt need the extra lefty.
Curious what is his hard hit rate?
I think he’s here to eat innings on this road trip if we get blown out by dodgers or just have a bad one in SF so we can save the rest of the pen
They DFA garbage and pick up the trash again. WTF?
IKR …. Why didn’t they simply claim a really amazing relief pitcher off waivers instead of Tonkin! Stearns is such a stupid dumb idiot moron! He should be fired then tarred and feathered!
Tonkin taking anyone’s spot on Mets MLB roster is a mistake.
WTF!!!
Innings eaters are valuable, even on winning teams.
@MetsSchmets Mets have plenty of arms to eat innings this guy made the error that gets him off the hook for a lot more runs that belong on his ERA. Mets have plenty of pitchers who are out of options to take this bum back because like Eppler Stearns can’t admit he made a mistake in selecting him.
So just like Lowly Rodriguiez they keep running them out there to protect their egos.
Twins dumped him after he gave up runs first time he pitched!
That’s one of the worst takes I’ve read on this site. This has nothing to do with egos wtf are you even blabbering about.
They don’t have “plenty of arms” who can take one for the team and just wear it for a few innings and let their ERAs explode in a blow out.
I also suspect your confused about options and how they work because what you said doesn’t make an ounce of sense.
Welcome back Kotter!..to the Mets!.. Hope AA doesn’t see this. Chavez is already back. No more repeat offenders!