The Mets have released outfielder Eddie Rosario, The Athletic’s Will Sammon reports (via X). Rosario signed a minor league deal just 10 days ago, but he’ll now leave the organization after seven games with Triple-A Syracuse.
Rosario didn’t have much success in his brief time in Syracuse, as he posted just a .444 OPS with eight strikeouts over 30 plate appearances. It continues what has been an altogether rough 2024 season for the former NLCS MVP, as Rosario has hit .175/.215/.316 over 319 combined PA at the big league level with the Nationals and Braves.
Washington signed Rosario to a minor league deal last winter, and the Nationals are still on the hook for most of the remainder of Rosario’s $2MM salary. (The Braves only covered the prorated portion of the Major League minimum salary for Rosario’s 24 games on their roster.) Signing Rosario to a minors deal was therefore a no-risk move for the Mets as a way to seeing if a change of scenery could spark the veteran, but New York will now also move on from Rosario’s services.
While his results this season don’t exactly inspire confidence, it is worth remembering that Rosario was still a league-average hitter in the majors just last season, when he hit .255/.305/.450 with 21 home runs over 516 with Atlanta. It speaks to the overall hot-and-cold nature of Rosario’s big league career that he has an exact 100 OPS+ over his 10 MLB seasons, plus a 97 wRC+ that checks in slightly below the average mark.
This track record means that it wouldn’t be surprising to see another club take a flier on Rosario for a minor league deal. Signing with a new team prior to September 1 would make Rosario eligible for postseason play, as his past success in the playoffs makes this detail noteworthy even if Rosario hasn’t looked worthy of a 26-man roster spot, let alone a spot on a postseason roster. Given his struggles, Rosario might just be looking to catch on with any team (contender or non-contender) that can offer him a path back to the majors, and a chance to salvage something from a rough season.
bhambrave
Wow. They didn’t give him much of a leash.
lesterdnightfly
More of a short lease. Not even a rental.
ExileInLA 2
He wasn’t earning a call up to the Mets – so now he has a chance to go elsewhere by Aug 31. This helps the player…
atlbraves
Helps the player because the Mets aren’t going to postseason. Now Rosario might have the chance.
User 401527550
Should he have had even been given a leash?
Yordaddy appreciator
A lot of guys this season will have stories to tell their grandkids about how many times they were cut, Rosario included
Camikey
I laughed at the “More to come…” line. I mean, what else is there to say about this?
TheFuzzofKing
They need time to copy and paste in the text of all the articles they wrote about this guy since the spring.
Human Being
Eddie has a high YIPS rating at 15.8 this season. Time to wrap up shop.
Degaz
Nick Krall and the Reds should sign him. Sign all Rosario’s!!
lesterdnightfly
This just in:
All of MLB releases Eddie Rosario.
Gumby82
Next up: Farhan and the Giants
bigalcathey
He’s made over 40 million in his career, and has a World Series ring. Sounds like it’s time to ride off in to the sunset. Thanks for 2021, Eddie!
mlb fan
“40 million in his career”..Rosario’s probably going to try to get those last two years of service time to reach 10. It doesn’t look likely now but you never know.
bigalcathey
Not very likely at all.
bigalcathey
But it he can gain part of his stroke back, you never know.
Lloyd Emerson
I guess I missed the news about Atlanta releasing him…
DoubleStix
I grew up with an Eddie Rosario. Not the same guy. I hope he’s doing even one-40th as well as this guy.
getrealgone2
Eddie’s dead. That’s what I said.
its_happening
Finish off the entire NL East.
Diggerydoo
Yankees, Twins, Guardians (Because they are clearly wanting to have 67 to 128 fielders this year at their disposal..) Brewers, and Padres will ALL be giving him the long eye over the next 4 days
BPax
It just occurred to me. Where’s Abraham Almonte? One of the great “sign then release” guys.
solaris602
I’m sure he’s bouncing around somewhere in AAAA ball as usual. Almonte is the ultimate 10-day fill-in
Acoss1331
Time for Eddie to go to the NPB or KBO…
Rishi
I’m speaking out of my behind so to speak but I have wondered if Eddie let the NLCS get to his head a bit. He seemed a bit inflated in some interviews Ive seen. Having the crowd chant your name (even on the road) every at bat when you are realistically a league average hitter seems like it could do that to a guy. A sudden burst into fame (granted it was kind of deserved-the guy had twice been towards the bottom half of the MVP voting (17th-18th I think) and even the Braves “analyst” Joe Simpson didnt know who he was. He came back in the game against the Dbacks and got a key 9th inning single with 2 outs but even then the whole story on MLB.com & elsewhere was about him (despite Murphy hitting a 2 run homer after his single to win the game). In post game interview he kept talking up what kind of player he was (clutch). I mean I think he is kind of clutch at times but he also isn’t…a ton of times. I don’t think he will be able to do anything for a team without consistent at bats (over months). It takes him forever to get hot.
lesterdnightfly
“I’m speaking out of my behind …”
Could have stopped there. TL:DR