Mets outfielder Khalil Lee has gone unclaimed on waivers and been sent outright to Triple-A Syracuse, according to his transactions log at MLB.com. He was designated for assignment earlier in the week after the Mets claimed reliever Sam Coonrod off waivers from the Phillies.
A report emerged last week that Lee was the subject of a civil action filed by his ex-girlfriend, who accused him of assaulting her last May. A misdemeanor arrest warrant charging Lee for criminal obstruction of breath was reportedly issued last August. The status of those criminal proceedings is unknown. Major League Baseball has reportedly opened an investigation under the joint domestic violence policy between the league and Players Association. The commissioner’s office is permitted to level disciplinary action under that policy even in the absence of a criminal conviction.
The 24-year-old outfielder has played in 13 games for the Mets over the past two seasons. He spent the bulk of last season with Syracuse, hitting .211/.326/.366 with 10 home runs and 14 stolen bases. He walked at a strong 11.2% clip but struck out in a third of his plate appearances.
Lee has never previously been outrighted and doesn’t have the requisite service time to refuse the assignment. He remains in the Mets’ organization but no longer occupies a 40-man roster spot.
