The spots on the 40-man roster for these three Mets could be forfeited.
In order to make room for the formal signings of Shintaro Fujinami
and Jake Diekman, the New York Mets will need to release two players from their 40-man roster. Every seat at the lunch table is currently occupied due to the congestion.
It’s interesting to note that, despite adding arms, the Mets have spent most of the offseason choosing to DFA position men rather than pitchers. In this instance, it cannot go on. Being the only position player still subject to DFA, Zack Short’s continued presence may suggest that the Mets plan to keep him around in case of injury.
Who is therefore more likely to be cut from the 40-man roster?
3) Reed Garrett
The best pitcher to stash on the 40-man roster is Reed Garrett, who only has minor league options available. In his nine appearances for the Mets last season, he had a 5.82 ERA, which was far from enough to make him a serious candidate to remain on the team in 2024. He trails Josh Walker and Grant Hartwig, two younger, optional pitchers, by a year and a half. Walker also benefits from throwing left-handed for a team that might need the extra southpaw in case of emergencies.
Mets in the previous summer. He was sniped out of the Baltimore Orioles game. Most of his tenure was forgotten. Even while Garrett wasn’t the first person to fall victim to David Stearns’ hand grenade after he took over in the front office, it seems certain that one of his decisions will eventually surpass Garrett.
Garrett’s potential value to the Mets going forward would determine whether or not to DFA him. Though he may theoretically stay with the team until Opening Day, he should go closer to waivers if he is outperformed by anyone even once the regular season begins.
2) Phil Bickford
Phil Bickford It’s surprising that they managed to endure this long into the offseason. It was a bit surprising that he was even offered a contract via tender. He and the Mets will face arbitration. But the argument over less than $100,000 can simply indicate that they have lost interest.
It’s possible that Stearns’ original plan was to trade Bickford even after the DFA. It wouldn’t be a particularly noteworthy return. Despite being a college student the first time he was selected in the first round of the draft, Bickford, who is still 28 years old, has always generated some curiosity about his potential on the field. After 180.2 innings in the majors, his lifetime 4.43 ERA has fallen short of expectations. Bickford’s absence of minor league options would also immediately put the Mets in a difficult situation. In any case, they will DFA him if he isn’t performing.
Players like Yohan Ramirez and Sean Reid-Foley are in the same area as Bickford. Reid-Foley and Bickford are nearly equal, and he may just as easily be named. In the same way that the team has kept Short around over the offseason, he appears to be insurance in case of injury.
The team also traded for Yohan Ramirez early in the winter. His lack of minor league options put him in danger of being cut from the team, even if it cost them money.
Maybe it’s the curiosity about Ramirez’s potential and the fact that Stearns selected him that makes Reid-Foley and Bickford seem like more likely DFA candidates.
1) Max Kranick
There may never be a resolution to the Max Kranick tale. He provided us, as childhood Mets supporters, a cause to cheer for him to be selected to the club. But he was always a long chance to join the squad because he was a starting pitcher with no other choices.
In front of Kranick on the 40-man roster, there is no lack of starting pitcher competition. It is quite tough to imagine a scenario where he stays much longer, given that they are unable to option him to the minor levels either. Actually, we should brace ourselves for Kranick to suffer the same fate as Cooper Hummel and Tyler Heineman, given how swiftly the Mets have let go of players they took off waivers.
Really, nobody compares to Kranick’s level of performance. He is the only starting pitcher who cannot be optioned to the minor leagues, outside of the expected starting five to begin the season. Jose Butto, Tylor Megill, and Joey Lucchesi are anticipated to start the season in Triple-A. Kranick could, but he would have to accept an assignment to Syracuse after clearing waivers. He might also become a free agent and sign a minor league contract with another team.
The intention seems to be to discuss Kranick’s early fandom as soon as the Mets signed him. Why not apply to be a candidate to pitch a few innings for the team you supported as a child, given the slim probability that he would get a major league contract with another organization?