The Mets have signed right-hander Vinny Nittoli to a minor league deal, MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo reports (X link). Nittoli became a free agent after rejecting an outright assignment from the Orioles at the start of August, and he’ll now return for a second stint in Queens after appearing in three games for the Mets in 2023.
Nittoli has been a member of 11 different organizations since he was a 25th-round pick for the Mariners in the 2014 draft, and he has suited up for five of those teams at the Major League level during the 2021-24 seasons. His 12 innings in 2024 represent the bulk of his 18 2/3 career innings in the Show, and Nittoli has a 1.50 ERA in those 12 frames with the A’s and Orioles.
In keeping with the journeyman nature of Nittoli’s career, the Mets are now his fourth team in the last two months. He started the 2024 season on a minor league deal with the Athletics but was then designated for assignment and released after he opted for free agency rather than an outright assignment to the minors. Nittoli then caught on with the Cubs on a big league contract but was DFA’ed again just a day after signing that contract, marking the second time that Nittoli has been part of the Cubs organization without pitching in a Major League game for the Wrigleyville side. Nittoli then landed with the Orioles on another minors deal and made two appearances at the MLB level before another trip to DFA limbo.
There has naturally been some inconsistency baked into Nittoli’s 4.33 ERA in 320 career minor league innings, as he has shown enough flashes of higher performance to continually draw interest from teams looking to add long relief depth. While Nittoli has posted good strikeout numbers in the past, his 36% strikeout rate in 26 1/3 Triple-A innings this season represents a new career best, and he has a strong 2.73 ERA pitching for the Athletics’ and Orioles’ top affiliates.
Vinnie the wanderer… He must have a great list of inexpensive restaurants in AAA cities.
He could probably start an outlet store, selling all his equipment from all the teams he’s been on, both minors and majors.
That’s a good name for a Met.
The Orioles should have kept him. He only threw 4 innings, but they were clean and stress-free.
Small sample size in Baltimore but I was disappointed that they let him go. They definitely could use him now. He looked good when he did get an opportunity to pitch. I know he’d be pitching better than Soto is right now. Good luck to Vinny.
Good luck.
Looking forward to Vinsanity at Citi.
You might have to wait a bit
A decent depth piece who is not that bad
Decent depth. NYM suddenly have alot of ok pen depth for last 7 weeks. Likely their SP (Severino looks like running out of gas) and Nimmo/Martinez/Alvarez coming out of slumps that will decide if they snag final wc
Sometimes it takes a pitcher longer to develop into a bonafide big leaguer.
Hope Vinny continues to pitch well at Syracuse. The Mets can use the depth, and they will have a lot of openings on their staff after this year’s free agents leave.
@imissjoe ….except Nittoli will be leaving as well… as a minor leaguer who is not on the 40-man, he is a free agent at the end of the season.
Good point. Maybe his 12th different organization will give him a full time shot.
Congratulations to My Cousin Vinny !!
From His YOOTS !!
I had to check and it is ten MLB organizations. Although, he has double stints with Seattle, Toronto, the Cubs, and now the Mets.
I think Rich Hill leads with 15.
I don’t know much about this guy, in fact I don’t even remember his first trip through Citi Field, but looking at his brief history in MLB, he looks like a guy any team would want around. Why has he not stuck anywhere?