The Mets announced that they have claimed outfielder José Azocar off waivers from the Padres and optioned him to Triple-A. The Friars had designated him for assignment in recent days. Right-hander Sean Reid-Foley has been transferred to the 60-day injured list to open up a 40-man roster spot.
Azocar, 28, has been with on the Padres’ roster for most of the past three years, serving as a frequently-optioned speed-and-defense depth outfielder. His contract was selected in April of 2022 and he has since been put into 214 games, though only sent to the plate 397 times.
Offensively, Azocar doesn’t bring too much to the table. He has hit .243/.287/.322 in those plate appearances at the major league level, with that production translating to a 74 wRC+. It’s a fairly similar story in the minors, as he has taken 438 trips to the plate at the Triple-A level since the start of 2023 with a line of .276/.309/.402. In the inflated offensive environment of the Pacific Coast League, that leads to a wRC+ of just 70.
But he can provide value elsewhere. He has just over 1,000 innings in the outfield in his major league career, playing all three slots on the grass. He is just a bit above average in the eyes of Defensive Runs Saved, coming in at +2, but Outs Above Average gives him a stronger grade of +8. OAA is particularly fond of his center field work, with a +5 mark up the middle.
Azocar is in his final option season, meaning he will have less roster flexibility next year. The Padres nudged him off their 40-man when Fernando Tatis Jr. came off the 60-day IL, but the Mets will stash him at Syracuse for the time being. They currently have an outfield mix of Brandon Nimmo, Harrison Bader, Jesse Winker, Starling Marte and Tyrone Taylor, with J.D. Martinez in the designated hitter slot.
Some of the guys in that group have notable injury histories, so Azocar can give the club some glove-first depth for the rest of the year. He has less than two years of service time and can therefore be controlled well into the future, but clinging to his roster spot will become more challenging in the long run.
As for Reid-Foley, he has spent most of this season on the IL due to right shoulder issues. He landed on the shelf on Opening Day due to a right shoulder impingement and was activated in late April. He was on the active roster for two months before going back on the IL, again due to a shoulder impingement. This transfer to the 60-day IL is a formality since he has already been out for longer than that, meaning he can be reinstated whenever he’s healthy. Earlier this week, he wasn’t sure if he would be able to return before the end of the season, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com on X.
Never have and never will understand why they’re referred to as the Friars and why they’re called the Padres instead of the Fathers.
It’s pretty simple if you knew anything about California history; specifically So Cal. The first mission in California was established in SD by Fr. Junipero Serra. Thus the name Padres
I have lived in CA, been to CA 4 times overall, and plan on moving back to CA (particularly SoCal) but thanks for the info.
San Junipero is the best episode of Black mirror
The San Diego Padres are called the Friars because the team’s name is a tribute to the Spanish Franciscan friars who founded San Diego in 1769. The word “padre” is Spanish for “father” or “friar” and is also a term that Roman Catholics often use to refer to priests.
A friar is a priest….a Padre is a Father (priest). ..a Father is a friar. I mean, what sounds better…the Seattle Seaman or Seattle Mariners?
Edward John Smiths: Seattle Pilots.
Suncloud: Padre is Spanish for father.
Or one who practiced the forcible conversion of indigenous peoples to Christianity.
Ever read much history…
I‘m guessing Stewart is about to get designated for assignment and they need to fill the hole.
There’s no reason to DFA Stewart, he still has an option available and can be sent back to Syracuse freely.
Well, Sugar…
🙁
Guess Stearns wasn’t doing fantasy football drafts like the rest of us heathens. Drat!
Gwynning, I’m right there with you but now that I see he was in last option year, that likely explains why Johnson was chosen to be kept. Possibly, even why Johnson was called up over Sugar.
Fresh start and good luck.
Its seems Stearns is following a reverse version of Preller’s model; instead of employing a roster full of Infielders he’s buying Outfielders
Good news, he cannot misjudge the ball anymore for the good guys
Love that Sugars 1st big league homerun was off a guy with the last name of Sweet.
Nice 5th of/26th man.
And now joins a team whose closer is nicknamed Sugar.
Great add by NYM and have a realistic shot at overtaking the Bravos
Sounds like more a case of taking something away that SD might need than getting something the Mets need, with Bader, Nimmo and Taylor all capable of playing CF.
Interesting observation
Granted Azocar couldn’t even get starts on the big league club when Tatis was out for 2 months.
Defensive depth? Not sure I understand this for the Mets.