The Guardians announced that right-hander Peyton Battenfield has been claimed off waivers by the Mets. Battenfield was designated for assignment earlier this week as part of Cleveland’s roster-clearing moves for waiver claims Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Matt Moore.
Perhaps something of an overlooked arm within a Cleveland system deep in pitching prospects, Battenfield made his Major League debut this season, called into action to help eat innings amidst some injuries within the Guardians’ rotation. The results weren’t great, as Battenfield posted a 5.19 ERA, 18.5% strikeout rate, and 8.2% walk rate over 34 2/3 innings (starting six of his seven games). The righty was then injured himself, as shoulder inflammation sent Battenfield to the 60-day IL from mid-May until the start of August, when he was activated and then optioned back to Triple-A Columbus.
A ninth-round pick for the Astros in the 2019 draft, Battenfield was dealt to the Rays during the 2019-20 offseason before heading to Cleveland in the 2021 deadline deal that sent Jordan Luplow and DJ Johnston to Tampa. He’ll now find himself on the move again to a Mets team that might have some competition for a rotation job next spring, given how only Kodai Senga and Jose Quintana look like sure bets to be part of the starting five. At worst, Battenfield looks he can be a depth option for New York, and might have some further upside considering that he is just a year removed from a solid performance with Columbus in 2022.
Meh. New arsonist for the pen.
I was a little surprised Battenfield was the guy they booted off the 60. I was assuming it would be Michael Kelly, who seems a random castoff reliever that anyone could have had for free. Not surprised Battenfield got claimed.
You mean the 40.
I do, thank you
Averages a hit per inning with a 79 era+… noiceee.
It’s a small sample size but a hit per inning is basically league average. He’s at 8.8, league average is 8.5
No big league experience and an ERA over 5- Eppler’s favorite combo.
Mets have to start somewhere, this season is one to forget, I’d equate it to the Titanic. Great expectations that sunk like a lead boat.
Peyton knows how to pitch. I know the stats this year were not great but he really competes. Hope he gets a fair chance with the Mets.
Did something happen to his velocity over the last few years? In college, he was over 10 K/9 and in 2021, he had 11.4 K/9 in A/AA. In AAA in 2022, he was down to 6.4 K/9 and in 47 innings at AAA this year, he was all the way down to 4.5 K/9. Tough time adjusting or something else (like a loss in velo or injuries)?
No. He had a few good starts early in the year and then got hurt.. He was very good in the minors but never had much prospect clout, mostly because he doesn’t throw 98 and isn’t Dominican. At his peak,
I think he was around their number 15ish prospect in a good minor league system. However, he’s an underrated college arm that knows how to pitch but isn’t electric. He is a decent backend starter to stash for depth. Just remember that you’ll get very little good information from many of the idiots commenting on these stories. Most of them just go to the pipeline and look at there ‘projected grades,’ which are created by a lot of guys that miss way more times than they don’t. Mets have nothing to lose.
Let’s wait and see how many runs he gives up against Seattle this weekend. 😉
And then be claimed by the Mariners after being DFA’d again…
“He really competes.” So, unlike every other player in pro ball?
Battenfield doesn’t really have any upside and he probably is who he is at this point, but he filled some innings when the Guardians needed it earlier this year and a lot of other teams can find some use for that. He won’t ever be a favorite of Statcast or other advanced metrics, but he fills a need and that helps.
I do think it’s telling that he’s been with the Astros, Rays, and Guardians (who are three of the best best teams in baseball when it comes to developing pitching) and hasn’t really unlocked much upside, but even if this is who he is, you’ll still need guys like that during the course of a season.
I’d like hm to stick, if for no other reason than his name. “Payton Battenfield” sounds like captain of a polo team.
I don’t know anything about polo but his name is Peyton
Fair enough.
Love is a Battenfield
Is that you, Pat?
Chris Berman
Both of us know it
If he’s competing for a spot in the rotation next year, the Mets are wasting everyone’s time and money. He’s been moved too often to tell me he’s decent, and deep pockets Cohen can find better 1 year options out on the market if needed.
Upvote for knowing who the real Mets GM is.
The Correa attempt in the off-season was something I don’t think that even Eppler would’ve brought to the table after all the other signings. One GM who is questionable at best and an owner, while I appreciate his willingness to spend, needs to let the experts (if there are any) handle the day to day. I do like that they’re focusing on youth and building from there. Time will tell off the lesson has been learned.
Good get for the Mets, they need to make the 6 worst records so they don’t lose their first round pick due to the luxury tax.
Every loss counts:).
To clearify their first round pick would only be docked by 10 picks but then they will likely sign a comp pick free agent and then lose the pick completely.
It’s a lottery. The worse they do, the greater the odds they get in the top six by the drawing, but no guarantee. And if they do, the less important round two gets docked the 10 picks.
Amusing that Cohen quit on the team only to see it no farther out now than at the deadline.
Imagine what they might have done with the #1 starter, #3 starter, closer, starting OFer, another starting OFer, useful 3B-2Bman, and the serviceable bullpen arm they traded away.
Instead of trading away talent they could have even added a good #5 starter at the deadline along with several respectable bullpen arms for prospects in the team’s mid-20s and worse. And that’s just if they didn’t want to go big.