The Mets announced to reporters, including Tim Healey of Newsday, that right-hander Chris Flexen has been released.
Flexen, 29, was designated for assignment by the Mariners just over a week ago amid a frustrating season. He posted a 7.71 ERA in 42 innings for Seattle, leading to him losing his roster spot. He was then flipped to the Mets in what amounted to a salary dump for the M’s. Flexen is making $8MM this year and still has almost half of that to be paid out, but the Mets agreed to take that on in order to acquire right-hander Trevor Gott. They promptly designated Flexen for assignment again and have now released him.
Normally, players with less than five years of service time can’t reject an outright assignment while retaining their salary. But players coming from international leagues often get language in their contract to circumvent the normal service time rules and MLBTR confirmed that Flexen could not be sent to the minors without his consent, which prompted this release.
The Mets will remain on the hook for what remains of that money for the rest of the season. Any of the 29 other clubs could sign him and would only be responsible for paying him the prorated league minimum salary for any time spent on the roster, with that amount subtracted from what the Mets pay.
Although he’s undeniably struggled this year, Flexen could garner interest based on his previous work. In 2020, he headed to Korea to pitch for the Doosan Bears of the Korea Baseball Organization. He posted a 3.01 ERA over 21 starts there and parlayed that into a two-year deal with the Mariners that came with a $4.75MM guarantee. Over 2021 and 2022, he tossed 317 1/3 innings with a 3.66 ERA, triggering an $8MM vesting option for 2023 in the process.
With various clubs around the league dealing with injuries to their pitching staffs, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see some of them give Flexen a shot to recapture his previous form, especially considering it would come with essentially no financial risk.
Sorry but would rather have Flexen over a few options currently in bullpen
What’s the point in doing a trade with him in it to begin with? Financial?
Yep. M’s get the Mets to take on Flexens money, Mets get Trevor Gott from the M’s.
It’s a running theme for the Ms and Mets if you go back to the Cano deal.
did someone say Cano?
Yeah they did. But they won’t after this season ends.
A prospect acquisition (Gott) that only costs money.
Gott isn’t a prospect. He’s in his fifth year of service time.
But yeah, this was basically a swap or cash, rather than a prospect for Gott.
But M’s also received Muckenhirn who (I guess?) is a prospect.
No. He was cut.
Nope
He’s 28.
this is a way to get a reliever without having to give up a prospect or good player
Flexen is a NorCal native from Newark, CA.
Giants and A’s on LIne 1 ……………..
A’s only want him if he remains bad, any improvement and it will interfere with our intentional embarrassment of a club.
Actually it makes sense for the A’s because if he rebounds quickly, he can get flipped for “something”.
When you look at the rest of the rotation after Webb and Cobb I really wouldn’t be mad if the Giants gave him a start to see what he has
lol
Chris Flexin YOU are a Los Angeles Dodger
Would it surprise anyone if Flexin signs with a team like the Rays and is a more than serviceable option the rest of the season.
@viking… I wouldn’t be surprised if the Ray’s or the Braves pick up Flexen and turned him into an 18 game winner lol. Some organizations are just that good. Respect given.
There’s got to be talent there, though. The Braves took a flier on Cano last year, and if you look, he didn’t stay there long.
The Ray’s certainly have a knack for rehabilitating or enhancing pitchers careers. They could sign my dog and he would end up as a Cy Young winner.
Is your dog a southpaw by chance?
Alas he is a righty…the lack of opposable thumbs might present a probblem too. But he’s also good at stealing (food) so perhaps he can be a two way player like Ohtani 😉
RedSox could sign Flexen to take the place of Garrett Whitlock temporarily, and it f he does well keep him for long relief or a 5th starter. Either way he could brodge the gap for them thru the All-Star break.
Would Houston give him a shot.
I sure hope so!
Mets Flexen on Chris by releasing him
TWICE
Would prefer they be stuntin on Stroman
Fr fr no cap ONG
Looks like the gott exactly what they wanted.
Flexen might actually be the reds number 2 starter if they claimed him.
Jerry pulled one over on the Mets- again.
And flexens salary.!!
Someone will pick flexen up and give him a chance-KC anyone
The Mets got the guy they wanted, and didn’t have to give up any prospects for him. Just a relatively small amount of money, and a 28 year old minor leaguer who still had 3 minor league options left. I wouldn’t call that pulling one over. The Mets are the only ones who got any real value out of this deal.
There are alot of Gott type relievers out there. Could be had for cheep. The fact they got the Mets to take flexen and about 4M.
Gott and his salary for a prospect would have been OK.
Basically, Gotts not worth 4M.
Yeah yeah yeah.
Back to the Mariners on a minor league deal
Word on the streets in Bridgeport Chicago is that he is going to be signed to a minor league deal this week. Stay tuned
He’s worth a shot to replace Vallimont in the Norfolk AAA rotation to see if he can he his stuff back together. The O’s certainly have a path to regaining a shot at the big league rotation. Or at least as a long man.
RIP Chris, we hardly knew ye. This was your chance to redeem yourself with the Mets and they didn’t even give it to you.
Wouldn’t it be crazy if things went full circle and he re-signed with the Mariners?