Outfielder Austin Slater has elected free agency, according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com. The Mets had sent him outright to Triple-A Syracuse a few days ago but he has exercised his right to reject that assignment and head to the open market instead.
If a player has at least five years of big league service time, he has the right to reject an outright assignment while also keeping his salary commitments in tact. The Marlins signed Slater in late March, after the Tigers had granted him his release from a minor league contract. The Miami deal was a major league pact with a $1MM salary. The Fish cut bait less than a month into the season, designating Slater for assignment. He cleared waivers and elected free agency.
The Fish remain on the hook for the remainder of that salary. Other teams can sign Slater and only pay him the prorated portion of the league minimum, with that amount subtracted from what the Marlins pay. The Mets stepped up to volunteer for that opportunity but they also bumped Slater off their roster after less than a month. Between the two clubs, he has a rough .209/.286/.233 line on the year.
Other clubs may still be interested in him based on his track record. Slater has a decent floor from his speed and defense. In over 3,000 outfield innings in his big league career, spread across all three spots on the grass, he’s been credited with six Outs Above Average. On the whole, Defensive Runs Saved has him just a hair below average, but mostly due to that metric considering him subpar in center. He has five DRS in right field and four in left, with over 1,000 innings in each corner. Though he’s now 33 years old, Statcast still pegs his sprint speed in the 66th percentile of qualified big leaguers this year.
Offensively, Slater has been around league average in his career, but with caveats. A right-handed bat, he has done most of his damage against lefties. He has a .263/.352/.420 line and 115 wRC+ with the platoon advantage in his career but a .228/.313/.331 line and 81 wRC+ in the other half of the split. He has also seen his overall production decline lately. From 2020 to 2023, he slashed .259/.352/.421 for a 117 wRC+, regardless of pitcher handedness. Since then, he has a .212/.298/.304 line and 74 wRC+.
Despite the declining numbers, there is some lingering interest. The Yankees liked him enough to trade for him at last year’s deadline. He had to settle for a minor league deal in the winter but looked good in spring, hitting .267/.389/.467, and quickly got himself a big league pact. He hasn’t been able to carry that over into the season but his résumé should still be enough to at least get him a minor league deal somewhere, if not a major league one.
Photo courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
At this point wouldn’t hate the Tigers giving him a look. Jahmai Jones has failed at his platoon job and at least Slater can play the field
He’d be going from the NLs most disappointing team to the ALs most disappointing team.
disagree giants or rockies are more disappointing. Mets can atleast say injuries caused it but to be honest kind of expected with being more defensive minded and then signing players to play positions they never played before. Giants just been bad and the rockies are just well the rockies.
Disappointment implies expectation. In what way are the Rockies disappointing? If anything they have been playing better than people expected.
Ha ha. Mets have a 370m payroll !
If you cannot hit, you cannot stick. This player simply cannot hit. It’s over.
Dude has been in the majors for ten+ years. I’d consider that “sticking”. But sure, it’s easier to be flippant and negative.
You’re right, he’s been in the league 10 years and all of us just wish we was good enough to make it a year
Love the fishing analogies, Darragh!
There’s still a chance Slaters agent will call and he’ll be saved by the bell.
If he gets back to the show. His walk up song should be Vince McMahon saying saying ” it was me Austin” then glass break stone Cold theme song. ( Disturbed version)
Maybe just the glass break.