The Mets will soon be adding veteran reliever Tommy Hunter to their roster, according to Michael Mayer of Metsmerized. A specific date of his promotion hasn’t been specified yet.
The 35-year-old Hunter is a veteran who, once he gets into a game, will have pitched in each MLB season since 2008. He was largely a starter in his first few seasons but transitioned to bullpen duties full-time for the 2013 season. From that year to the present, he’s logged 402 MLB innings with a 3.18 ERA, 20.7% strikeout rate, 5.3% walk rate and 45.9% ground ball rate.
He was with the Mets last year, but pitched just eight innings before going on the injured list due to a back issue. He was later traded to the Rays for financial reasons but never made it back to the field, having undergone back surgery. After eventually returning to health, he held a showcase for teams in April and then returned to the Mets’ organization on a minor league deal.
Pitching for the Triple-A Syracuse Mets this year, Hunter has thrown 13 2/3 innings over eight appearances. His 4.61 ERA maybe doesn’t excite, though the peripherals paint a rosier picture. His 23% strikeout rate and 1.6% walk rate are being undercut somewhat by a .318 BABIP and 56.3% strand rate.
Hunter isn’t currently on the club’s 40-man roster, meaning a corresponding move will be necessary when his contract is selected.
This is random but I really thought I saw Tommy Hanson. I’m a Braves fan so maybe when I instinctively saw Tommy H I thought of him. RIP
Chipperniner7 I for some reason was thinking Tommy Milone. Was really hoping to see him k a few guys with an 82 mph heater
Not to be confused with Tommy Heinsohn or Tommy Harper. Too many Tommy He’s in the sports world.
Megill was pulled with an injury tonight. Escobar was also unavailable for an undisclosed reason.
Either might be the corresponding move.
Not by themselves unless Escobar has COVID because Hunter needs a spot on the 40-man. My guess is Jake Reed will be DFA’D.
Reed is awful. Cut him
Reed at least has good action and can be really effective against righties, just needs more polishing.
They may DFA Locke St. John before Reed. They both stink.
Hm. Yeah probably reed after the last outing.
Escobar dealing with a non workplace issue. No details.
It seems like Tommy Hunter has been around forever. How is he 35, not 45?
Thank God for Tommy Hunter. He instantly becomes a top 3 reliever on the Mets next to Diaz and Ottavino. I know they traded him last year because he got injured but I was still sad to see him go
Ottavino? Seriously?
U are forgetting drew smith and Seth lugo
I’m not even a Mets fan, but Drew Smith over Ottavino easily. Also Seth Lugo has returned to form lately. Mets bullpen is not bad at all. Diaz has been amazing.
Agreed, Smith is pretty solid.
Hunter is one of Buck’s boys from Baltimore, so I anticipated Tommy getting a call-up once he showed he was healthy/effective at AAA. My guess would be Reed getting DFA’d.
it was only 8 innings,,but he was good for us last year– and right when we needed a RP too (well…we needed one, and another FIVE last year, so…)
Once again, while better, I have very close to zero faith in my Mets’ bullpen that they’ve put together. Drew was my pick for best and he’s holding up his end on that so far for the most part, excluding Diaz. Diaz looks like an all star, but damnit I aint ready to jump on that bandwagon. Lugo been looking like Lugo again. So fingers crossed that Hunter comes in, and picks up right at that 0 ERA he had in those whopping 8 iP in 21…. STILL STUNNED we went all out this past winter, but looked at the pen and said “nah. We’re good.”
So make that 8 fingers crossed Hunter comes in and is an effective, reliable RP!!!
@ BygSerch I think you’re being far too critical. Drew Smith, Seth Lugo, Edwin Diaz….most teams would kill for that pen.
Big Game Hunter. He’s a Buck favorite from Baltimore so no surprise he gets an opportunity
Buck had him in Baltimore from 2011 to 15. Got him from Texas along with Chris Davis for our reliever Uhara (sp?). Not surprised at this. He came to us as a starter. It was Buck who converted him to a late inning reliever specialist. He’s much older now. Does he still have it?
Next up for Mets. Another Oriole? Mancini? Addresses DH need. Another Buck guy. Power is off but uses all fields and puts ball in play. Excellent in clubhouse. Illness seems to be in rear view mirror. Orioles need pitching two years from now. Maybe Butto for package deal that includes Mancini?
Do they really have a DH need? Seems like a dumb place to give up prospects when you can just hope Davis heats up. There aren’t really any pressing needs but even so, DH isn’t a concern.
@Cosmo2 Fair enough. I hope your right about the DH position! If so, I agree, “dumb” place to give up a prospect. Cheers!
I would think possibly Mullens before Mancini?
With Dom sent down, I could envision a trade between the Mets and Orioles. I stayed in spring training that they fit well before the Means injury.
Dom needs a change, as much as I like him. Vientos, Dom, cash and a young pitcher might land Mullens and Mancini. Mullens is insurance if Nimmo elects free agency. Mancini is depth in right, left and 1b giving Pete some rest while he dh’s.
@jimstem: Intriguing. One thought. Drop Dom and replace with a Butto or the like. IE someone who in all likely hood could be a rotation guy in 2024/25. The O’s need pitching help.
If Mullins and Mancini can be had for that, that’s a pretty good deal. But do both those players even fit in together. I’d love Mullins but, again, this isn’t really an area of need. I’d go for pitching first.
@Cosmo2 Hmm. If “I’d go for pitching first” means big league ready, the O’s do not have one those handy. Heck, Lyles is our 1. And Lopez was just converted to closer this year. And there’s not much in between them. By the way, I was at Bowie Wednesday. Got to see Alvarez play 2. 1st game behind plate, 2nd as DH. Great attitude to go along with that bat speed. At 20, is he an option to bolster things instead of going the trade route? If Mets want to add pitching though, the O’s are probably not the ideal trade partner?
Probably not. In general I don’t see the need for a trade at all but many fans are obsessed.
Big Game Hunter ⚾️
Did anyone hear updates on Trevor Rosenthal’s showcase?
It went about as well as one would imagine I would guess, since we’ve not heard much. I’m sure all those fans who had him penciled in as their teams closer are shocked.