David Peterson will make his season debut tomorrow, as he’s listed as the Mets’ probable starter for their series finale against the Dodgers. New York will need to reinstate the left-hander from the 60-day injured list. They already have an opening on the 40-man roster, so they’ll only need to make an active roster transaction.
Peterson slots back into the starting five after undergoing a labrum repair in his left hip in November. The rehab process went smoothly and the southpaw makes his return from the IL not long after he’s first eligible. Peterson has made six minor league rehab starts, the last two of which came with Triple-A Syracuse. He built to 89 pitches in his most recent appearance. He shouldn’t have much issue logging something close to a standard workload out of the gate.
The Oregon product has spent parts of the last four seasons in the New York rotation. He started 21 of 27 games last season, setting a personal high with 111 innings. Peterson’s 5.03 earned run average wasn’t especially impressive, but he punched out 26% of opposing hitters. While he’s never had pinpoint command, he managed a 3.83 ERA behind a near-28% strikeout rate two seasons ago.
It looks as if the Mets will plug Peterson into a six-man rotation. Rookie Christian Scott has pitched well through his first four appearances and should remain in the starting staff. Luis Severino, Sean Manaea and Jose Quintana are all locked into rotation spots, although Quintana hasn’t pitched all that well. Tylor Megill has been excellent in his pair of starts since coming back from a shoulder strain.
Peterson’s return should at least bump struggling Adrian Houser into a long relief role. The right-hander’s hold on a roster spot seems tenuous, as he has been rocked for a 7.34 ERA with more walks than strikeouts in his first 41 2/3 innings as a Met. Houser can’t be sent to the minor leagues without his consent, leaving the Mets to decide whether to move on entirely or hope to get him on track in the bullpen.
Reed Garrett and Josh Walker are the only members of the current MLB bullpen who have options. (Dedniel Nuñez was up for today’s doubleheader as the 27th man but will likely be returned to Syracuse tomorrow.) Garrett has been arguably their best reliever and certainly isn’t getting sent down. Walker has been on and off the active roster a few times already. He could be optioned, though doing so would leave Jake Diekman as the only left-hander in Carlos Mendoza’s ’pen.
That may not be the only roster decision facing the Mets in the next few days. New York has operated without a traditional backup middle infielder since they designated Joey Wendle for assignment two weeks ago. The Mets have carried both Brett Baty and Mark Vientos, dividing playing time for the youngsters at third base. With Pete Alonso and J.D. Martinez at first base and DH, respectively, there’s not much defensive value on Mendoza’s bench.
President of baseball operations David Stearns acknowledged this afternoon that arrangement isn’t a long-term solution (link via Will Sammon of the Athletic). That came before today’s doubleheader, in which Lindor injured his left index finger on a bunt attempt. The All-Star told Tim Healey of Newsday that x-rays came back negative (X link), but it stands to reason the Mets would prefer to have some kind of shortstop insurance for the coming days even if they expect Lindor to avoid the injured list.
Aside from McNeil and Lindor, prospect Luisangel Acuña is the only healthy middle infielder on the 40-man roster. The 22-year-old is hitting just .254/.301/.353 in Syracuse and seems to need more development time in Triple-A. It’s likelier the Mets would select the contract of a more experienced non-roster player if they decide to add to their bench. Jose Iglesias and the recently-acquired Pablo Reyes are possibilities.
metzfan
They should also consider Luke Ritter who is hitting well with power and can play 3B,2B and 1B. McNeil could play SS in a pinch
deweybelongsinthehall
Iglesias is perfect. Yes he’s getting older and his range is more limited . His cost is minimal and if he proves he has something left, he can be flipped for a marginal wild card youngster who could surprise and develop. Then, should there still be a need, you hope Acuna is ready. Nothing to lose.
Joggin’George
I agree that Iglesias is the best choice. But there’s no way he’s getting flipped for anything of even potential value.
Cohens_Wallet
SMH
raisinsss
Been absolutely awful watching this team collectively plummet.
Better trade Pete now while his OPS is over .600…
At least that’s 2.5 hours a day I can spend doing something, anything, else.
deweybelongsinthehall
What will Pete bring back? If Abreu is done, Houston seems like the perfect fit. On the radio in NY, the host was talking about the Yankees paying a premium to replace Rizzo. I just don’t see the Yankees or the Mets doing that. I seriously though have no idea what the return would look like from most clubs never mind a NY premium.
JoeBrady
Depending on Casas, the RS would be a good fit for Alonso. Cooper & Smith haven’t been the answer. But you’d have to hit up Breslow while they are still on the fringes of contention.
raisinsss
The only hitter meeting expectations is now DJ Stewart, and he’s only expected to be the 4th of.
Absolutely dismal.
This is on the offense/edwin Diaz.
Bill M
The rest of the pen is looking pretty bad recently as well
raisinsss
Yeah, their incredible over performance was masking this teams flaws.
They’re absolutely limping right now. All of them. Maybe Tylor Megill’s one good start makes him the best player on the team currently.
deweybelongsinthehall
Diaz has been inconsistent his entire career. Look at his Seattle work. You just hope the year goes on, the rest of the team is too.
wefwewefwe
Sell the team.
Johnny utah
$400 million
100 losses
The lolmets freak show circus embarrassment is back & its uglier than ever before
MetsSchmets
Don’t be upset Johnny, they’ll get better
deweybelongsinthehall
As a Sox fan, I know you think there is only one way (up) to go but there is always a trap door in the floor. Patience and baseball in the northeast just don’t go together. The truth is the Mets have a proven leader. Give him the rope he needs. Unlike with Henry who looks at the Sox as a financial asset, Stearn will deliver in time as Cohen truly lets him do what he believes is best. Henry brought in Bloom because he said everything Henry wanted to hear. Stearn I believe in contrast told Cohen what he needed to hear.
Johnny utah
@dewey
Stearns did well with small market tm
In queens he’s been a disaster
Signed nothing but veteran garbage
The young bats are forced to remain on the bench or minors
Top prospects are all hurt or poorly developed by mets system
So many injuries & disappointments
Stearns has made the tm worse
I thought maybe mets will compete 2025-2026
The current freak show stearns has created wont compete for 5-10 yrs
MetsSchmets
10 years? In his first 6 months of being a GM he’s set the team back a decade? By signing veterans who he can trade at the deadline? Because if injuries??
Johnny you ridiculous SOB. That’s like a full 2 standard deviation from your usual level of stupid.
Joggin’George
But this time the lol Mets narrative is do to the team giving in to fans and going on an ill advised spending spree.
wefwewefwe
Peter Alonso’s rejection of the contract offer will end up being one of the dumbest contract rejections in sports history.
horaceallen
Even Michael Conforto is getting a chuckle out of Pete rejecting that offer.
deweybelongsinthehall
Funny part is when the Mets made the offer, they knew it was going to be rejected. They likely made it to try to gauge what it really would take to sign him pre-free agency and are very happy he said no.
BradCu 2
I wish they took the same tact with Lindor when they offered him 300 million and he said no
uncle Stevie should’ve said OK go play for your contract
but no…he immediately offered him 40 million more
Ugh
Cohens_Wallet
@dewey
Agreed, also it gave the Mets a good excuse (not that they needed one) to talk to other teams about Pete’s value and were underwhelmed by the offers. Gave the Mets good perspective as to what to expect moving forward.
Blackpink in the area
I could see the Cardinals having interest in Quintana assuming the Mets would pay some of his salary and not expect anything back.
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
Go Cardinals, so happy they’re doing better. Blackpink, I know you’re smart. Could you explain how a relief pitcher can be accredited with a “HOLD” and also the LOSS at the same time??
Blackpink in the area
Lol I don’t really understand the hold statistic. Cards win tomorrow back to 500 it’s a start.
WAR_OVERRATED
It is also possible for a pitcher to receive a hold and a loss in the same game should he exit with the lead, only to see the runners he left on base score the tying and go-ahead runs. Origin. The hold was invented in the 1980s by statisticians John Dewan and Mike O’Donnell as a means to quantify the effectiveness of relievers who aren’t closers.
mlb.com/glossary/standard-stats/hold
holecamels35
Houser still being on the roster shows the fans you don’t really care.
MetsSchmets
Yeah that’s it, they don’t really care. Very astute.
Well Hung
Sorry Pete Alonso. The owner has reverted back to good business skills, you should have cashed in before his excitement with his new toy faded
Robrock30
Lol Mets,
Mets are a $ 400 MM dumpster fire, and Steve Cohen’s Citi Field Casino Project that he has been dumping mega $ promoting and lobbying just was rejected. The Locals want the Soccer Team and Stadium and Housing and Steve Cohen is playing hardball with them by denying them the use of his parking. This is getting very ugly over in Flushing. Lol
Joggin’George
This is why SPEND SPEND SPEND is a dumb plan, despite what most fans think.
Robrock30
The Mets moves now are literally rearranging the deck chairs on a sinking ship. There is no help in the minors banging on the door and it is a long two months away until the trading deadline. The Team is unwatchable and Mets fans are apathetic which is the worst possible scenario for Ownership. Start pointing fingers someone needs to take the fall.
mlbnyyfan
Start the fire sale now. Who’s first to go? Sevy? Otto? Bader? McNeil? JD? Alonso???