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Mets Promote Andres Gimenez, Designate Stephen Gonsalves

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In a surprise move, the Mets have decided to promote top infield prospect Andres Gimenez to open the season. It’s not clear just yet how robust a role he’ll occupy, but Amed Rosario projects as the everyday option at shortstop — he position Gimenez plays.

Also making the MLB roster are lefty Chasen Shreve and righty Hunter Strickland. Both have had their contracts selected to the 40-man roster. It’s the same situation for infielder Eduardo Nunez, as reported previously. To clear a 40-man roster spot, the Mets designated lefty Stephen Gonsalves for assignment.

The 21-year-old Gimenez has ranked as one of the organization’s best prospects for the past three years. His 2019 numbers weren’t exactly eye-catching — .250/.307/.387 in Double-A — but Gimenez was among the youngest players in the pitcher-friendly Eastern League. Gimenez went on to play in the Arizona Fall League and raked at a .371/.413/.586 clip in 18 games and 75 plate appearances. Entering the 2020 season, he was ranked as the game’s No. 84 prospect at MLB.com and No. 90 at Baseball Prospectus.

Strickland, 31, was limited by a Grade 2 lat strain last year and struggled enormously when on the mound, pitching to a combined 5.55 ERA in 24 1/3 frames between the Mariners and Nationals. His track record prior to that unsightly campaign, however, was strong. From 2014-18, Strickland worked to a combined 2.91 ERA (3.40 FIP) with averages of 8.4 K/9, 3.1 BB/9 and 0.7 HR/9.

Of course, Strickland has drawn as much if not more attention for other reasons. He incited a benches-clearing brawl in 2017 after throwing at Bryce Harper — an incident most believe to be the result of a years-old grudge against Harper for homering twice off Strickland in the 2014 NLDS. The next year, upon being pulled from a game after blowing a saved, Strickland punched a door out of frustration and sustained a broken right hand. He required surgery and missed the next six weeks.

The left-handed Shreve was a solid middle relief option for the Yankees for a few seasons but flopped when he was traded to the Cardinals in the 2018 Luke Voit swap that also sent Giovanny Gallegos to St. Louis. In 203 2/3 innings, Shreve has a career 3.71 ERA.

Gonsalves, 26, was a fourth-round pick by Minnesota and was long a top prospect in the Twins organization. He cracked multiple Top 100 lists as he rose through the minors, regularly drawing praise as a high-probability back-end starter. He never got much of a look in Minnesota, though (24 2/3 innings), and he’s been limited by arm troubles in recent years.

Eduardo Nunez Makes Mets’ Roster

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Infielder Eduardo Nunez has earned a spot on the Mets’ season-opening roster, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. Meanwhile, right-hander Erasmo Ramirez will head to the Mets’ taxi squad instead of their 30-man roster.

The 33-year-old Nunez has been a successful big leaguer in the past (especially with the Giants and Red Sox from 2016-17), but a significant decline in production over the previous two seasons stopped him from landing a guaranteed contract over the winter. After batting an unsightly .255/.277/.366 (67 wRC+) in Boston from 2018-19, he settled for a minor league deal with the Mets. Now, as someone with extensive experience at every infield position but first base, he could serve as a backup to second baseman Robinson Cano, shortstop Amed Rosario and third baseman Jeff McNeil. Of course, the Mets will first have to add Nunez to their 40-man roster, which is at capacity right now.

Ramirez, another offseason minor league pickup, looked like a logical candidate to earn a spot in New York after the club placed No. 2 starter Marcus Stroman on the injured list Wednesday. Now that the once-effective swingman won’t begin the year with the Mets, it remains unclear how they’ll fill out their rotation behind Jacob deGrom, Rick Porcello, Steven Matz and Michael Wacha. Walker Lockett’s on the IL, but David Peterson, Corey Oswalt and Stephen Gonsalves could represent a few options from their 60-man player pool.

Marcus Stroman “Week To Week” With Calf Injury

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The Mets announced that they’ve placed right-handers Marcus Stroman and Robert Gsellman on the injured list. Stroman, who was said to be experiencing tightness in his calf earlier today, has been now diagnosed with a tear of some extent in that ailing calf muscles. Gsellman is experiencing some discomfort in his right triceps.

The IL placement for Stroman and the announced muscle tear are more ominous than this afternoon’s report of mere tightness in his calf. It should be noted that even a Grade 1 strain indicates some stretching or minor tearing, so it’s still possible that his absence won’t be substantial. Manager Luis Rojas tells reporters that Stroman will not require surgery (Twitter link via Anthony DiComo of MLB.com), but the skipper also referred to Stroman’s injury as a “week to week” situation, which isn’t a great outlook in a season that’ll barely span nine weeks from start to finish.

The loss of Stroman is a brutal hit for the Mets, who were already without right-hander Noah Syndergaard for the entire season due to Tommy John surgery. Two-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom will still head up the team’s rotation, but he’ll now be followed by Steven Matz, Rick Porcello, Michael Wacha and a to-be-determined fifth starter. Non-roster veteran Erasmo Ramirez could be one option, and 2017 first-round pick David Peterson is also in the Mets’ player pool. Right-hander Walker Lockett was placed on the IL this week with a back injury.

On a personal level for Stroman, the injury is about as poorly timed as possible. Already facing a shortened platform season prior to his first foray into free agency this winter, missing multiple weeks could give Stroman fewer than 10 starts to demonstrate his health and effectiveness for interested clubs. Given the potential for teams to be stingier than usual on mid-range free agents following this year’s revenue losses, the calf issue could prove particularly costly for Stroman, who posted a 3.22 ERA with better than a strikeout per inning in 184 1/3 frames last year.

As for Gsellman, it seems there’s lesser concern. DiComo tweets that his IL stint is expected to be back-dated the maximum three days, and a return to the bullpen in early August doesn’t appear to be out of the question. In two years since converting to full-time relief role, the now-27-year-old Gsellman has a 4.45 ERA with 8.1 K/9 against 3.2 BB/9 in 143 2/3 innings.

Mets Release Melky Cabrera, Gordon Beckham

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The Mets have released veteran outfielder Melky Cabrera and infielder Gordon Beckham, per a team announcement. Both signed minor league pacts with the organization shortly after MLB’s transaction freeze was lifted. The Mets also confirmed their recently reported minor league deals with center fielder Juan Lagares and second baseman Brian Dozier. The team’s 60-man player pool stands at 57 players.

Cabrera, 35, initially drew interest from the Mets back in Spring Training but didn’t get a deal with the team done until after the designated hitter was announced in the NL for the 2020 season. The switch-hitter hasn’t batted lower than .273 in the past decade and routinely posts average or better on-base percentages as a result of those contact skills — even though he rarely walks. Cabrera’s power has dipped in his mid-30s, however, and his defensive skills have deteriorated even more greatly. Last year’s .280/.313/.399 may look passable on the surface, but it checked in well south of the league average in last year’s supercharged offensive environment (85 wRC+, 88 OPS+).

Beckham, meanwhile, had hoped to make the club as a bench option. The 33-year-old spent the 2019 campaign with the Tigers, hitting .215/.271/.372 with six homers, a dozen doubles and a pair of triples in 240 trips to the plate. The former No. 8 overall pick has never replicated his strong rookie season with the White Sox, hitting at a combined .233/.294/.355 in 10 years since that time.

Mets Sign Juan Lagares, Brian Dozier

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The Mets have struck minor-league deals with outfielder Juan Lagares and infielder Brian Dozier, according to reports from Deesha Thosar of the New York Post (Twitter link) and MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo (via Twitter). Both will join the 60-man player pool.

It’s certainly an interesting mix of new additions for the New York club. Both players ended up back on the open market after they failed to stick with the Padres. Each has a history in the division.

Lagares has still yet to suit up for a team other than the Mets for regular season action. The 31-year-old spent seven seasons with the team but departed over the winter. Now, he’ll take up a spot on the depth chart but likely won’t have an opportunity in the majors other than as a fill-in player. Lagares owns a .254/.297/.361 slash in over two thousand career plate appearances.

As for Dozier, he’s fresh off of a season with the NL East-rival Nationals. The veteran second baseman turned in a useful .238/.340/.430 batting line over 482 plate appearances, but was largely displaced late in the season. He is now several seasons removed from his days as a star slugger with the Twins but still looks to be a nice insurance policy for the Mets.

Marcus Stroman Could Miss First Scheduled Start

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As the Mets join the rest of the league’s thirty teams at the starting blocks, they’re waiting to see whether a key arm will be with them from the jump. Starter Marcus Stroman has experienced calf tightness that could prevent him from taking his anticipated turn in the rotation, MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo was among those to report on Twitter.

The Mets haven’t yet committed to a decision on Stroman, with skipper Luis Rojas indicating that the righty is considered day to day at the moment. Even if Stroman is held back a bit, the team may wish not to place him on the 15-day injured list. That’d mean missing nearly a quarter of the truncated season.

Stroman is of central importance to a Mets staff that will go without Zack Wheeler (free agency) and Noah Syndergaard (Tommy John surgery) in 2020. There’s still plenty of talent in the rotation mix, but the loss of those two prominent righties has cast Stroman in an even brighter light.

Last year, Stroman turned in 184 1/3 innings of 3.22 ERA pitching over 32 starts, the final eleven of which came following a trade to his native New York. If he can provide anything close to that kind of output in 2020 — or, at least, match the 3.77 ERA he posted with the Mets — then Stroman could help put the club over the edge in what’s likely to be a closely fought postseason race. He’s also pitching to set himself up for his first trip onto the open market at season’s end.

It doesn’t sound as if there’s any reason for major concern here. But the situation highlights the delicate balance that teams will face. On the one hand, the Mets will want to get Stroman on the mound as soon as possible in order to maximize his impact. On the other hand, pushing too hard and suffering a setback could easily wipe out much of the campaign.

It’ll be interesting to see how the Mets end up handling pitching assignments if Stroman is kept on ice for a bit. With Walker Lockett already sidelined, the team could turn to an alternative such as Corey Oswalt. It might also seek to utilize Oswalt, Erasmo Ramirez, Stephen Gonsalves, and/or other starter-capable pitchers in some kind of piggyback arrangement. Most intriguing, perhaps, is the idea of bumping prospect David Peterson, though that would mean starting his service clock and clearing a 40-man roster spot.

Cespedes Expects To DH On Opening Day

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The stage is set for a fascinating final contract year for Yoenis Cespedes and the Mets. The veteran slugger says he’s a full go for the regular season and anticipates opening the year as the team’s designated hitter, as Tim Healey of Newsday was among those to cover on Twitter.

Cespedes is working back from some serious leg injuries that cost him not only significant action, but also significant guaranteed money. His amended contract calls for his earnings to depend in large part upon how many plate appearances he manages this year, so it’s good news for all parties that he’s ready to roll from the jump. (The targets will be pro-rated to reflect the shortened season.)

The real financial prize for Cespedes lies in another trip onto the open market at season’s end. He’s already 34 years of age, so there’ll be some natural limits to his potential earning power, but he could hold a top position on the market with a full-throated return to form.

The Mets will gladly pay up if Cespedes is able to play at his typical levels. He has done nothing but hit in New York — when he has been in the lineup. Cespedes carries a .282/.346/.543 batting line during his time in Queens but has appeared in only 119 contests since the start of the 2017 season.

Mets Place Jed Lowrie, Walker Lockett On Injured List

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Infielder Jed Lowrie and pitcher Walker Lockett will open the season on the injured list, the Mets informed reporters including MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo (Twitter links). The former will be placed on the 10-day list, while the latter will go on the 15-day list under the newly tweaked rules.

Lowrie’s left leg remains shrouded in both mystery and braces. The 36-year-old veteran has not yet contributed to the Mets since signing a two-year deal in the 2018-19 offseason. He has finally made some progress but obviously still isn’t in game shape.

As for Lockett, he’s said to be dealing with a lower back ailment. It’s not yet clear just how long he might be sidelined. Lockett has yet to fully establish himself in the majors but had seemed to be lined up for an active roster spot to open the year. He’s out of options, so will need to be moved onto the active roster or exposed to waivers once he’s healthy.

New York Notes: DeGrom, Tanaka, Hicks, Cessa, Gsellman

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After tossing 60 pitches in a simulated game today, Jacob deGrom looks likely to be ready for Friday’s season opener.  (The New York Post’s Dan Martin was among those to report the news.)  While a simulated game isn’t a substitute for a real outing, of course, deGrom’s strong results were encouraging — he didn’t allow a hit against any of the 14 batters faced, and recorded nine strikeouts.  Back tightness caused deGrom to leave last Tuesday’s intrasquad game after only an inning of work, leading to fresh questions as to whether or not the Mets ace would be ready for the start of the season.

With the Mets and Yankees squaring off in exhibition action tonight, here are some notes from both Big Apple franchises…

  • DeGrom isn’t the only star pitcher showing progress, as Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka looked good during a bullpen session today.  Manager Aaron Boone told the New York Post’s George A. King III and other media that Tanaka will likely next face hitters possibly as early as Tuesday, which would mark the first time Tanaka has faced live batters since being hit in the head by a Giancarlo Stanton line drive on July 4.  Tanaka fortunately escaped with only a mild concussion, and if he continues to rehab well, Tanaka may end up missing only one start.  “It is possible he will be able to start at the back end of the second trip through the rotation,” King writes.
  • Aaron Hicks underwent Tommy John surgery last October, but told MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch that his right elbow “feels good right now,” and he is on pace to make the Yankees’ Opening Day roster.  Throwing has been a particular source of improvement, as Hicks said “the ball has been coming out really well this past week.  I feel like I’ve been able to get a lot more carry on my ball, especially throwing to home [plate].”
  • Also from Hoch’s notes piece, Luis Cessa has arrived at the Yankees’ Summer Camp after recovering from COVID-19.  The right-hander tested positive before arriving in camp, and went through the standard procedure of a two-week quarantine and two consecutive negative test results before being allowed to join his teammates.  Cessa played catch today and will throw off a mound on Monday, though it isn’t yet clear if he will ready for the Yankees’ first game.
  • Robert Gsellman has been battling tightness in his right triceps, Mets manager Luis Rojas told MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo and other reporters.  While Gsellman has started to play catch off of flat ground, Rojas wasn’t sure if Gsellman would be available for the Opening Day roster.  The right-hander has been a workhorse reliever for the Mets over the last two seasons, tossing 143 1/3 relief innings and posting a 4.45 ERA, 2.55 K/BB rate, and 8.1 K/9.  Gsellman missed six weeks with a similar injury last season, though Rojas said “there’s nothing of concern as far as past history.”

Mets Add Rene Rivera To 40-Man Roster

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The Mets have added catcher Rene Rivera to the 40-man roster, according to Tim Healey of Newsday. The 36-year-old Rivera signed a minor league contract with the Mets in January and was named to the 60-player pool.

This offseason was the second consecutive winter in which the Mets brought Rivera aboard on a minor league pact, and the third time they’ve done so since 2016.

Rivera figures to be penciled firmly into the Mets’ third catcher spot, behind starter Wilson Ramos and Tomas Nido. Last year he emerged as Noah Syndergaard’s “personal catcher,” and while Syndergaard won’t be on the field this year after undergoing Tommy John surgery, Rivera is nonetheless respected as a solid defensive catcher and offers serviceable depth beyond Ramos and the light-hitting Nido.

Rivera himself doesn’t offer much offensively, with a career batting line of just .221/.272/.354 over 1,547 plate appearances. And while he only got into 9 games for the Mets last year, he evidently brought enough to the table to earn himself a spot on the 40-man roster. With teams deploying a three-player taxi squad, one of whom is required to be a catcher, it seems that Rivera is tailor-made for the role.

 

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