Mets Notes: Rotation, Shortstop
The Mets’ rotation — and roster at large — has underwhelmed thus far in 2026. Mets starting pitchers rank 19th in the majors with a 4.24 ERA and are tied for the game’s sixth-highest walk rate at 10%. In particular, struggles from Kodai Senga and David Peterson have set them back. New York turned to Christian Scott for his first big league start since 2024’s Tommy John surgery yesterday against the Twins, but he walked five of the 10 hitters he faced and plunked a sixth before being lifted from the game in the second inning.
Will Sammon and Tim Britton of The Athletic report that at least for now, the plan is for Scott to make another start next week. The Mets have Peterson, Sean Manaea and Tobias Myers all pitching out of the bullpen right now and will work to keep them all stretched out, given the uncertainty in the rotation. If they end up needing a fresh arm — Peterson and Myers both threw 40-plus pitches in long relief yesterday — it’s possible Scott could instead be optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. Any of those more veteran options in the ‘pen could then step in for a start in Scott’s place.
Scott and young ace Nolan McLean are the only two members of the Mets’ rotation who can be optioned. The latter, of course, isn’t going anywhere. In the bullpen, only Myers and Huascar Brazobán can be optioned. The lack of flexibility, coupled with the Mets’ injured and underperforming lineup, prompts Britton and Sammon to wonder whether president of baseball operations David Stearns might eventually explore the trade of a pitcher to help bolster the offense.
Trades of any real significance are rare this early in the season, but there are a handful of notable April or May deals in recent history. The Brewers picked up Quinn Priester from the Red Sox last April, for instance. A year prior, the Marlins shipped Luis Arraez to the Padres in early May. As The Athletic duo points out, when Stearns was running things in Milwaukee, he acquired Willy Adames from the Rays in a May trade.
The Mets aren’t going to get a hitter of any note for Manaea or Senga with their contracts underwater. They could perhaps try to swap either for a hitter with a similarly undesirable contract, but that sort of player isn’t going to help turn the lineup around. The best version of the Mets would have McLean and Freddy Peralta atop the rotation, and the Mets parted with multiple top prospects to get Peralta this winter, so he’s not an early candidate to move. Clay Holmes‘ opt-out opportunity at season’s end tamps down his value.
Speculatively speaking, Peterson feels like the most logical candidate to move in that type of scenario. He’s a free agent at season’s end, earning $8MM, and currently working in the ‘pen. The 30-year-old lefty had a tough run of three starts before being moved into a long relief role, but he started 30 games last year and finished the season with a 4.22 ERA, 20.7% strikeout rate and 9% walk rate in 168 2/3 innings. He’s allowed one run over his past two appearances — a total of seven innings. He’s not going to net a controllable, established hitter, but the Mets could try to swap him out for a veteran bat with similar service time.
There’s no indication at this point that the Mets are actively seeking to ship out a pitcher and/or bring in another bat via trade, to be clear, but it’s worth keeping in mind as the season progresses. That’s especially true with star shortstop Francisco Lindor hitting the injured list due to a calf strain this week.
In place of Lindor, it’ll be just-recalled Ronny Mauricio getting most of the reps at shortstop, writes Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. The Mets could slide Bo Bichette over to shortstop on occasion, but DiComo notes that the club has been pleased with Bichette’s move to third base so far. Bichette has been charged with a pair of throwing errors through his first 210 frames at the hot corner but has generally corralled anything hit in his direction. Metrics like Defensive Runs Saved (0) and Outs Above Average (1) feel he’s been perfectly adequate during his foray into a new position.
Shortstop is a familiar spot on the diamond for Mauricio. The 25-year-old, who ranked as a top-100 prospect for years before injuries (namely a torn ACL) set him back, has logged nearly 3900 professional innings at the position. He’s healthy now and was playing all over the diamond in Syracuse prior to his recall, though he did spend more time (seven games) at shortstop than at any other position. Even if Lindor hadn’t suffered an injury, pressure to recall Mauricio was mounting. He’s bludgeoned Triple-A pitching so far in 2026, raking at a .293/.349/.638 pace (150 wRC+) with six homers and five stolen bases through 63 turns at the plate.
It’s not clear just how long Mauricio’s runway will be. The Mets haven’t given a timetable for Lindor’s return, with manager Carlos Mendoza telling reporters only that Lindor will “be down quite a bit here.” He’s looking at more than a minimum stint, but the Mets haven’t specified whether Lindor is looking at an absence of three to four weeks or something more appropriately measured in months. Regardless, the injury gives Mauricio a rare everyday opportunity with the Mets — something that’s generally eluded him in recent years as he’s sought to establish himself in the majors.
Mets Planning To Recall Christian Scott For Thursday Start
The Mets will recall righty Christian Scott from Triple-A Syracuse to start Thursday’s series finale against the Twins, manager Carlos Mendoza tells the team’s beat (link via MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo). It’ll be Scott’s first big league action since undergoing Tommy John surgery during the summer of 2024. He’ll square off against Twins top starter Joe Ryan.
Scott, now 26 years old, once ranked as the organization’s top pitching prospect and one of the top prospects in the entire sport. He made his major league debut in 2024 and posted a 4.56 ERA with 19.8% strikeout rate and 6.1% walk rate in his first nine starts in the Mets’ rotation. He’d previously tossed 42 1/3 innings with a 2.76 ERA, 33.5% strikeout rate and 7.3% walk rate at the Triple-A level. His surgery didn’t take place until September, so he was never going to be an option for the Mets in 2025.
At this point, Scott is 19 months removed from going under the knife. He held opponents to three runs in six spring innings and has tossed 13 2/3 innings in Syracuse so far in 2026. His 5.27 ERA isn’t much to look at, but Scott has set down 29.3% of his opponents against a microscopic 3.4% walk rate. His 95.3 mph average four-seamer is actually up about a mile per hour over his prior levels. He’s pairing that pitch with a slider and splitter — the same three-pitch mix he featured prior to his elbow injury.
Outside of Nolan McLean, the Mets’ rotation is something of a mess at the moment. Freddy Peralta has been solid but not as effective as expected when trading a pair of top-100 prospects for the final season of his contract. David Peterson‘s 5.40 ERA is tied heavily to a sky-high .373 average on balls in play, but the results are discouraging nonetheless. Clay Holmes has a sub-2.00 ERA but is working with diminished strikeout and walk rates; metrics like FIP (4.18) and SIERA (4.23) feel he’s in line for a change of fortune. Lefty Sean Manaea, in the second season of a three-year deal guaranteeing him $75MM (with some notable deferrals), has been relegated to a long relief/swing role.
Most concerning of all is right-hander Kodai Senga, whom the Mets optioned to Triple-A last summer amid a series of struggles that looks to have been rekindled. The 33-year-old started the season in strong fashion (four runs, 16-to-5 K/BB ratio in his first 11 2/3 innings) but has lasted only 5 2/3 innings over his past two starts. In that time, he’s been shelled for 14 runs (13 earned) on 14 hits and five walks with only six strikeouts (17.1%).
For the time being, Mendoza indicated that Senga would stay in the rotation. His start date will be pushed back to Saturday, however. Peterson, meanwhile, will pitch out of the bullpen during the upcoming turn through the rotation (via SNY’s Chelsea Janes). It doesn’t seem that move is permanent, but with the Mets mired in a calamitous 11-game losing streak, they’re pulling some levers to try to change the team’s fortunes and avoid the doomsday scenario of digging an April hole that’s simply too large to escape.
The tumult in the Mets’ rotation could pave the way for Scott to carve out a lasting spot. His workload will probably be monitored closely this season, but the Mets can find ways to try to manage that if he’s pitching like one of the team’s five best starters. From a service time vantage point, Scott only needs 56 days on the major league roster or injured list this season to cross from one to two years of service. Doing so would put him on track for arbitration following the 2028 season and free agency following the 2030 campaign. He’s currently in the second of his three minor league option years.
Mets Notes: Polanco, Peterson, Minter
Mets infielder Jorge Polanco was not in the lineup on Thursday as he continues to deal with an Achilles injury. New York has not ruled out an IL stint for the veteran, manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters, including Will Sammon of The Athletic.
Polanco was brought in to be the club’s primary first baseman after Pete Alonso signed with the Orioles. He started the first two games of the season at the position, but has been limited to DH since then. Polanco said the pain in his Achilles “comes and goes,” relayed by Chelsea Janes of SNY. His absence on Thursday ended a streak of four straight starts.
Mark Vientos, Brett Baty, and Jared Young have all spent time at first base this season. The Juan Soto injury opened up right field reps for Baty, so Vientos has taken over regular work at the cold corner recently. The former prospect has made the most of the increased playing time, slashing .323/.353/.484 across 34 plate appearances. Baty hasn’t done a ton with his chances, but the injuries have allowed the Mets to get a longer look at both players.
While the defensive lineup has shifted around plenty, Mendoza does not plan to adjust the pitching rotation, at least not yet. The skipper was asked specifically about David Peterson after the lefty allowed five earned runs for the second straight start. “As I’m sitting here right now, no,” Mendoza said regarding a pitching staff change, relayed by Janes.
The Diamondbacks jumped all over Peterson on Wednesday, scoring once in the first inning and four more times in the second inning. Peterson settled in over his final three frames, but the Mets’ offense managed just two runs against Ryne Nelson and company. The southpaw’s ERA sits over 6.00 through 14 2/3 innings. It’s a continuation of Peterson’s second-half swoon in 2025. After earning an All-Star selection, Peterson stumbled to a 7.74 ERA over 10 starts from August on.
The Mets don’t have an obvious replacement lined up to take over Peterson’s spot. Sean Manaea opened the year in the bullpen after working primarily as a starter the past two years. His fastball remains under 90 mph, continuing a concerning trend from the spring. Mendoza said the club does not plan to add Manaea back to the rotation right now.
As Janes pointed out, pitching prospects Christian Scott and Jonah Tong have struggled to begin the minor league season. Scott’s been tagged for six earned runs over 8 1/3 innings through two Triple-A starts. The strikeouts have been there for Tong, but he has an ERA over 5.00 across three outings with Syracuse.
On the positive side, left-hander A.J. Minter tossed a scoreless frame at Single-A on Thursday. The reliever is working his way back from a lat injury. He underwent surgery in May and began the 2026 campaign on the injured list. The outing with St. Lucie was his first game action in nearly a year.
Early estimates had Minter returning in May, but he could be back with the Mets before the end of the month. “We started the clock, the rehab process now,” Mendoza told reporters, including Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. “It’ll be one of those where if we have to use every single day, we will. But the fact that he’s in real competition is a good sign.”
Minter is in the final season of a two-year, $22MM deal. He was off to a tremendous start in 2025 before the injury. The lefty gave up a pair of runs against the Marlins in his second appearance, then ripped off 11 straight scoreless outings. Minter pushed his strikeout rate to 31.8%, his best mark since 2022.
The Mets have relied on Brooks Raley and Richard Lovelady as their left-handed bullpen options with Minter out. Raley is tied for the club lead with two holds. He’s punched out seven hitters in five appearances. Lovelady has been scored upon in three of his five games.
Photo courtesy of D. Ross Cameron, Imagn Images
Mets Open To Dealing David Peterson
The Mets are willing to entertain offers on starter David Peterson, write Tim Britton and Will Sammon of The Athletic. That probably wouldn’t be for prospects but could be part of a swap for a player at a position of need.
New York has a question at first base and designated hitter with Pete Alonso remaining unsigned. Mark Vientos could step into one of those positions, but he’s a question mark coming off a replacement level season. With Edwin Díaz heading to the Dodgers (pending a physical), upgrading the late innings is a must. The Mets signed Devin Williams to give them cover in the ninth, but their setup group — especially among right-handers — isn’t good enough right now.
The Mets already pulled off one veteran for veteran swap with the Brandon Nimmo/Marcus Semien deal. That opened a spot in left field. President of baseball operations David Stearns confirmed on Monday that the club is in the outfield market (via Britton). They’ve been speculated more as a free agent suitor for Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger, but they’re presumably open to adding to the outfield in trade.
All that said, it’s not as if the Mets have a lockdown rotation. It’s a talented group but one without much certainty. Nolan McLean, who has made all of eight career starts, would probably have gotten the ball in Game 1 of a playoff series had they not collapsed in September. Peterson was their most reliable starter overall, though his terrible second half was part of the reason that New York squandered a playoff berth.
The 30-year-old southpaw carried a 3.06 earned run average into the All-Star Break. He allowed 6.34 earned runs per nine in the second half, including 18 runs across 16 2/3 frames in September. A lot of that is attributable to a spike in his batting average allowed on balls in play, but Peterson’s walk rate jumped in August and his strikeouts plummeted in the season’s final month.
It was still a solid performance in aggregate. The former first-rounder turned in a 4.22 ERA across a team-leading 168 2/3 innings. He got ground-balls at a very high 54.7% clip while slightly worse than average strikeout and walk numbers. Peterson’s performance has been up-and-down over the course of his career, but he has a 4.12 ERA with decent underlying marks in more than 600 innings.
Peterson is headed into his final season of club control. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects him for a $7.6MM arbitration salary. He’d probably double that if he were to sign a one-year contract as a free agent, so there should be a few million dollars of surplus value. There’s a chance he pitches well enough to put himself in consideration for a qualifying offer next winter.
If he’s not traded, Peterson will open the season in Carlos Mendoza’s rotation. McLean and Sean Manaea are locked in as well. Clay Holmes stuck as a starter all year but has plenty of experience in the bullpen. Kodai Senga has come up in trade talks. Christian Scott, Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat are high-upside talents who might all begin the season in Triple-A. The Mets are almost certainly going to add at least one starter, though they’re reportedly reluctant to go long term in free agency. They’ve been most frequently tied to Michael King as a potential target on the open market.
The Quiet MVP Of The Mets’ Pitching Staff
Dating back to Opening Day 2024, the Mets have used 16 different starting pitchers. In today's MLB, that's not really an alarming number. It's right around the median. Clubs like the Dodgers and Brewers lead the pack with 24 starters apiece, while teams with steadier rotations like the Mariners and Twins clock in at only 11 starters each since last year. The Yankees, even after a couple significant injuries in the rotation, have used only 10 -- the fewest in baseball.
The Mets' usage of 16 starters in and of itself isn't remarkable, but it's probably fair to say it also wasn't exactly the plan. Two years ago -- an eternity in the world of Major League Baseball rosters -- they were still dreaming big on future Hall of Famers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander forming an elite trio with then-newcomer Kodai Senga. When that didn't go according to plan, the Mets blew things up at the 2023 trade deadline and treated 2024 as something of a bridge year.
The subsequent offseason was punctuated by short-term acquisitions to patch over the rotation. In came Luis Severino, Sean Manaea and Adrian Houser -- the first two via free agency and the latter via trade. With Senga and Jose Quintana still on the roster from the year prior, the starting five looked largely set, at least on paper.
As is often the case with pitching staffs, injuries derailed those plans. Senga made one start in 2024. Houser made six before being banished to the bullpen. The Mets picked up Paul Blackburn at last year's deadline, and he made all of five starts before incurring a season-ending injury. Top prospect Christian Scott debuted and looked like he could help to smooth things over ... until he required season-ending Tommy John surgery after just nine starts.
There have been similar hiccups in 2025. Offseason signing Frankie Montas has yet to pitch due to a lat strain. Manaea, who opted out of his previous contract but returned on a heftier three-year deal worth $75MM, has been out all season due to an oblique strain. Scott is still on the mend from that UCL replacement. Blackburn hasn't pitched this season due to a separate knee injury.
But for the past calendar year, the Mets have quietly relied on a homegrown arm to stabilize the staff -- and he's stepped up and thrived as one of the most productive starting pitchers in the sport.
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Mets Notes: Peterson, Infield, Lindor
David Peterson will make his season debut tomorrow, as he’s listed as the Mets’ probable starter for their series finale against the Dodgers. New York will need to reinstate the left-hander from the 60-day injured list. They already have an opening on the 40-man roster, so they’ll only need to make an active roster transaction.
Peterson slots back into the starting five after undergoing a labrum repair in his left hip in November. The rehab process went smoothly and the southpaw makes his return from the IL not long after he’s first eligible. Peterson has made six minor league rehab starts, the last two of which came with Triple-A Syracuse. He built to 89 pitches in his most recent appearance. He shouldn’t have much issue logging something close to a standard workload out of the gate.
The Oregon product has spent parts of the last four seasons in the New York rotation. He started 21 of 27 games last season, setting a personal high with 111 innings. Peterson’s 5.03 earned run average wasn’t especially impressive, but he punched out 26% of opposing hitters. While he’s never had pinpoint command, he managed a 3.83 ERA behind a near-28% strikeout rate two seasons ago.
It looks as if the Mets will plug Peterson into a six-man rotation. Rookie Christian Scott has pitched well through his first four appearances and should remain in the starting staff. Luis Severino, Sean Manaea and Jose Quintana are all locked into rotation spots, although Quintana hasn’t pitched all that well. Tylor Megill has been excellent in his pair of starts since coming back from a shoulder strain.
Peterson’s return should at least bump struggling Adrian Houser into a long relief role. The right-hander’s hold on a roster spot seems tenuous, as he has been rocked for a 7.34 ERA with more walks than strikeouts in his first 41 2/3 innings as a Met. Houser can’t be sent to the minor leagues without his consent, leaving the Mets to decide whether to move on entirely or hope to get him on track in the bullpen.
Reed Garrett and Josh Walker are the only members of the current MLB bullpen who have options. (Dedniel Nuñez was up for today’s doubleheader as the 27th man but will likely be returned to Syracuse tomorrow.) Garrett has been arguably their best reliever and certainly isn’t getting sent down. Walker has been on and off the active roster a few times already. He could be optioned, though doing so would leave Jake Diekman as the only left-hander in Carlos Mendoza’s ‘pen.
That may not be the only roster decision facing the Mets in the next few days. New York has operated without a traditional backup middle infielder since they designated Joey Wendle for assignment two weeks ago. The Mets have carried both Brett Baty and Mark Vientos, dividing playing time for the youngsters at third base. With Pete Alonso and J.D. Martinez at first base and DH, respectively, there’s not much defensive value on Mendoza’s bench.
President of baseball operations David Stearns acknowledged this afternoon that arrangement isn’t a long-term solution (link via Will Sammon of the Athletic). That came before today’s doubleheader, in which Lindor injured his left index finger on a bunt attempt. The All-Star told Tim Healey of Newsday that x-rays came back negative (X link), but it stands to reason the Mets would prefer to have some kind of shortstop insurance for the coming days even if they expect Lindor to avoid the injured list.
Aside from McNeil and Lindor, prospect Luisangel Acuña is the only healthy middle infielder on the 40-man roster. The 22-year-old is hitting just .254/.301/.353 in Syracuse and seems to need more development time in Triple-A. It’s likelier the Mets would select the contract of a more experienced non-roster player if they decide to add to their bench. Jose Iglesias and the recently-acquired Pablo Reyes are possibilities.
Mets Notes: Senga, Peterson, Houser, Alvarez
Kodai Senga underwent an MRI on Friday and was diagnosed with triceps inflammation, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters (including Dan Martin of the New York Post). Senga received a cortisone shot to deal with the issue and will be shut down from throwing for the next 3-5 days.
The news represents another setback for Senga, who has yet to pitch this season after suffering a moderate posterior capsule strain in his right shoulder during Spring Training. Senga’s rehab process didn’t have any formal timeline attached, as the most recent reports indicated that he was first working on his mechanics before embarking on any clear ramp-up regiment. Senga was supposed to toss a bullpen session on Friday before the triceps discomfort shelved that plan.
If there is any silver lining, Mendoza noted that Senga’s shoulder and elbow looked good in the MRI scan, so the triceps area seems to be the only concern at this point. However, Senga and the Mets will now have to wait out this shutdown period before again re-evaluating the righty’s status.
Senga is already on the 60-day injured list and obviously won’t be activated when he hits the 60-day threshold this coming week, and it would now seem like he might not make his 2024 debut until perhaps after the All-Star break. Assuming he emerges from this shutdown period feeling better, Senga’s rehab assignment will still take at least a month given that he has to essentially start his preparation from scratch after missing all of Spring Training. From the Mets’ perspective, surely they weren’t going to take any risks with their ace righty’s health anyway, but there’s even less of a rush to get Senga back onto a big league mound since New York is 21-29 and doesn’t look like a contender.
An inconsistent rotation has been a big reason behind the Amazins’ lackluster record, as only five teams have a worse rotation ERA than the collective 4.59 posted by Mets starters. Some potential help could be on the way since David Peterson is nearing the end of his 60-day IL stint, and he made his second and potentially final Triple-A rehab start last night. Peterson has a 2.79 ERA over 9 2/3 innings in those two rehab outings, tossing 81 pitches in his first start and then 89 pitches last night.
Peterson underwent hip surgery last November, necessitating a season-opening stint on the 60-day injured list given the procedure’s recovery timeline of 6-7 months. It seems as though Peterson has gotten through his rehab in good form, so barring any last-minute health issues, the left-hander appears to be on track to be activated from the injured list this week.
Over four seasons and 333 innings for New York, Peterson has a 4.51 ERA while starting 64 of his 80 appearances. While nobody expects Peterson to step in and be a savior for the struggling rotation, Peterson might at least represent an upgrade over Adrian Houser, who Mendoza said could be moved back to the bullpen. Houser has a 7.88 ERA in 37 2/3 innings this season, starting his first six games before a shift to the relief corps, and was then inserted back into the rotation as the Mets moved to a six-man staff during a busy stretch of the schedule. Things didn’t go smoothly for Houser in his return to starting duty, as he allowed six earned runs over five innings in the Mets’ 10-4 loss to the Guardians on May 21.
In another injury update, catcher Francisco Alvarez is expected to take batting practice today for the first time since undergoing thumb surgery back on April 23. (MLB.com was among those to report the news.). Alvarez was given an eight-week recovery timeline, so it’s a good sign that he is already feeling better enough to face any sort of live pitching. He has also been taking some pitches behind the plate, catching with a splint inside of his glove — a process that is likely to continue for at least some time after Alvarez returns to action. The former top prospect was hitting .236/.288/.364 in 59 plate appearances prior to his torn thumb ligament, and this lengthy injury rehab has already drastically reduced what was supposed to be Alvarez’s second full Major League season.
Mets Claim Kolton Ingram
The Mets have claimed left-hander Kolton Ingram off waivers from the Tigers. Left-hander David Peterson was moved to New York’s 60-day injured list to create roster space.
Ingram was designated for assignment by Detroit earlier this week, and he’ll now be joining his third organization in under a month. The Angels DFA’ed Ingram when they signed Aaron Hicks at the end of January, and the Tigers moved to claim Ingram off waivers. The southpaw was initially a 37th-round Tigers draft pick back in 2019, but his second stint in the Motor City will last only a few weeks, as he now becomes the latest in a long line of Mets bullpen acquisitions this winter.
After first being cut loose by Detroit in 2020, Ingram caught on with the Angels prior to the 2021 season and posted some very solid numbers during his three seasons in the Los Angeles farm system. The work paid off in the form of Ingram’s MLB debut last season, when he pitched in five big league games over a pair of call-ups during the course of the year. For his first 5 1/3 frames in the Show, Ingram struggled to an 8.44 ERA with five walks and two homers allowed over 30 batters faced.
Control has been an issue throughout Ingram’s minor league career, though his 10.73% walk rate has been somewhat countered by a 30.21% strikeout rate. This ability to miss bats has been developed despite the lack of a big fastball, though Ingram has worked to increase his velocity and also develop a sweeper as a plus pitch. Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press recently profiled Ingram, detailing his steps to continually retool his mechanics and approach in the aftermath of getting released in 2020.
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns built a reputation for finding hidden-gem relief pitching during his time with the Brewers, and Stearns has been aggressive in a semi-overhaul of the bullpen during his first offseason in change of New York’s front office. Over a dozen relievers or swingmen with past Major League experienced have been acquired on either guaranteed or non-guaranteed deals this winter, as Stearns and the Mets’ pitching development staff will get to judge from a plethora of options this spring.
Peterson’s placement on the 60-day IL was expected, as he underwent hip surgery back in November. The left-hander’s recovery timeline is 6-7 months, so if all goes well, he should be back with the Mets in May or June.
David Peterson Undergoes Hip Surgery
The Mets announced this morning that left-hander David Peterson underwent surgery to repair the labrum in his left hip today. The expected recovery timeline for the procedure is six to seven months, which means Peterson is all but certain to open the season on the injured list. A six-month timeline would put him on track for an early May recovery, whereas a seven-month trajectory could push into the summer.
Peterson, 28, had an uneven season in 2023 after what had looked to be a breakout showing the prior year. His 2022 campaign featured 105 2/3 innings of 3.83 ERA ball, as the former first-round pick enjoyed career-best marks in average fastball velocity, strikeout rate and ground-ball rate. He induced grounders at an even higher clip in 2023, but just about every other meaningful rate stat trended in the wrong direction. Peterson finished out the year with a 5.03 ERA, 26% strikeout rate, 10.2% walk rate and 54.5% grounder rate in 111 frames.
That said, Peterson also enjoyed an excellent second half to the year. A three-week move to the bullpen in mid-July/early August produced 11 innings of 1.64 ERA ball, and when injuries thrust him back into the starting rotation, Peterson looked like a new pitcher. He’d been hammered for a 6.46 ERA through 11 starts to begin the season but closed out the year with a 10-start stretch of a 3.88 ERA, 28.2% strikeout rate and 11.7% walk rate — numbers that much more closely mirrored his solid ’22 efforts. Command obviously remained an issue for Peterson, but it was a promising end to the season that looked to set him up for another possible look in next year’s rotation.
Any such plans will now be placed on hold as he mends from today’s operation. It’s a notable blow to a thin Mets pitching staff that traded future Hall of Famers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander at this past summer’s trade deadline. With Peterson shelved, the Mets’ only established options in the rotation are veteran Jose Quintana and righty Kodai Senga, who turned in an outstanding rookie effort this past season. Depth options beyond that pair include Tylor Megill, Jose Butto and Joey Lucchesi, but the Mets are clearly lacking in the rotation.
First-year president of baseball operations David Stearns was already likely to place a heavy emphasis on acquiring rotation help this winter. The loss of Peterson for at least a month or two early next year only adds to that need. Pursuing multiple arms — likely at least one who could slot into the top half of the rotation already seemed likely — but there will be an increased need for depth and back-of-the-rotation options now that Peterson is recovering from a notable surgical procedure.
While Peterson’s injury clouds his 2024 outlook, it still seems likely that he’ll be tendered a contract for the upcoming campaign. He’s entering his first arbitration year, with MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projecting a modest $2MM salary in his first trip through the arb process. Given his remaining three years of club control and remaining minor league option, that’s plenty affordable — particularly for the game’s most deep-pocketed club.
Mets To Select Josh Walker
The Mets have optioned left-hander David Peterson, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. His active roster spot will go to fellow lefty Josh Walker, who was not previously on the 40-man roster, though the club already had a vacancy in that regard and won’t need to make a corresponding move.
This is the first time that Walker, 28, has been on a major league roster and he will be making his debut as soon as he’s put into a game. A 37th round selection of the Mets in the 2017 draft, he got some work in the lower levels of the minors in the 2017-2019 stretch before the minor league were canceled by the pandemic in 2020.
In 2021, he shot through three levels, going from High-A to Double-A and Triple-A. He tossed a combined 115 2/3 innings with a 3.73 ERA, striking out 21.5% of opponents against a 6.4% walk rate. Last year, he was limited by injury to just 13 1/3 innings over 13 appearances and has been working exclusively in relief here in 2023. He has tossed 13 1/3 innings over nine Triple-A outings with a miniscule 0.68 ERA, 34% strikeout rate, 11.3% walk rate and 32.1% ground ball rate. He’ll give the Mets a second left-handed relief option alongside Brooks Raley.
As for Peterson, he was called on to join the rotation as the Mets were dealing with injuries to Carlos Carrasco, José Quintana, Justin Verlander and the sticky stuff suspension of Max Scherzer. Unfortunately, he’s been lit up so far this year, currently sporting an 8.08 ERA through eight starts. There’s likely a bit of bad luck in there as Peterson actually has strong strikeout and walk rates of 24.7% and 7.7%, respectively. A .404 batting average on balls in play and 58.8% strand rate have helped some extra earned runs across the plate, but so have the eight homers Peterson’s allowed so far.
With Verlander and Scherzer both now back and Carrasco expected to rejoin the club in the near future, Peterson will head down to the farm and try to get things back on track for whenever the club needs reinforcements again.