The Mets have placed right-hander Zach Greene on outright waivers, MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo reports (Twitter link). Greene was selected away from the Yankees in December’s Rule 5 Draft, and unless another team claims Greene on waivers, the Mets will have to offer him back to the Yankees for $50K. If another team make a claim, they will assume Greene’s Rule 5 status, and will have to keep the hurler on their active roster for the entire season in order to fully obtain his rights.
Greene was an eighth-round pick for the Yankees in the 2019 draft, and he made a pretty quick rise through their farm system ranks even with the canceled 2020 minor league season interrupting development. He spent the entire 2022 season at Triple-A, and posted a 3.42 ERA and a strong 33.3% strikeout rate over 68 1/3 innings (almost all in relief except for four “starts” as an opener). An 11.1% walk rate was a weak point, and Greene has had pretty average control throughout his brief pro career.
With the Yankees filling their 40-man roster holes with other prospects, the 26-year-old Greene was left available for selection in the Rule 5 Draft. It was always going to be difficult for a win-now team like the Mets to try and carry a Rule 5 player on their roster all season, and after Greene’s struggles in Spring Training, the Mets have opted to part ways with the righty. Through 4 2/3 innings of Grapefruit League action, Greene posted a 13.50 ERA with more walks (six) than strikeouts (five).
Despite these uninspiring numbers, it’s not out of the question that another team (perhaps a non-contender) might take a chance on Greene to see if he can stick in their bullpen. The strikeout potential and overall profile is intriguing, and since Greene already has a full Triple-A season under his belt, he is more of a big league-ready player than a project, unlike many other Rule 5 picks.
Wow!
Mets have a lot of guys in the mix for the pen and just about all of them aside from Greene are performing really well. He was the obvious odd man out.
About time, guy sux.
IKF is a bum. Play volpe. Carry Dominguez as 2nd or 3rd catcher.
He’s not a catcher
Maybe Greene can catch.
Can the Yanks ask a guy to tank for the new team if he’s chosen in the Rule 5 draft? They forgot to tell Garrett Whitlock though.
This opens a 40 man roster spot for the Mets. Which would allow them to select a non-roster invitee. Maybe Tommy Hunter, or Abraham Almonte or Tim Locastro. Or some other unsigned free agent.
Better off taking Locastro and Almonte. Ruf is finished and Locastro can get Greene’s spot. Unless they want to give Mauricio a spot
It would likely go to a pitcher
It might be McFarland given the injury to Raley.
@phenomenalajs McFarland has basically been batting practice all spring. Hes finished. I’d rather them trade for Brad Hand, who they should of just signed in the first place. Zack Britton is still available. Not saying hes the answer but he’d be better than what they have at the moment
I’m always intrigued by this type of player. Pittsburgh or Oakland will sign him and give him a real shot. If he pans out, he becomes cheap talent for a few years and then trade bait when he hits arb2. If he flops, it was worth the gamble.
If another team MAKES a claim. Proofreading is a good idea.
The number of pedantic losers on this site is truly astounding
The number of idiots who don’t care about proper English on this site is truly astounding.
This is a MLBTR commemt section, not an ELA discussion board.
Oh, so standards of English don’t apply to MLBTR writers? Got it.
Good news for John Curtiss.
msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/now-healthy-john-curtiss-…
Nobody cares about Greene, waiting with everyone else for the Darin Ruf shoe to drop LOL.
Admit your mistake on a grand scale and move on!
his minors numbers look pretty great. 5 innings in spring might not be a good bench mark to say how well he will do at the MLB level
I’d like to see him in the pirates pen. 1.2 whip and a 12so/9 at AAA look pretty decent.
His stuff was average and he struggled with his command. If he clears waivers AND the Yankees don’t pay the 50K then maybe he ends up in Syracuse. He’s going back to MILB is the guess…somewhere.