The Mets have released right-hander Connor Overton, according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com. The righty was not on the 40-man roster, having signed a minor league deal with the club back in February.
Overton, 32, pitched in the majors from 2021 to 2023. Suiting up for the Blue Jays, Pirates and Reds over those three seasons, he tossed 59 1/3 innings over ten starts and eight relief appearances, allowing 4.85 earned runs per nine. He struck out 15.7% of batters faced and gave out walks at a 9.5% pace.
He required Tommy John surgery in May of 2023. He spent the rest of that season on the Reds’ injured list and was outrighted at season’s end. He re-signed with Cincinnati on a minor league deal going into 2024. He was back for official game action by May but never got fully stretched out. He made 17 appearances on the farm last year, including seven starts, but never went longer than three innings. He clearly struggled, with a combined 7.85 ERA in his 36 2/3 innings across multiple levels.
As mentioned, the Mets brought him aboard on a minor league deal, perhaps hoping that being further removed from his surgery would allow him to post better numbers. He tossed 5 1/3 innings in Grapefruit League action, allowing two earned runs, striking out three and walking one. That evidently wasn’t enough to keep him in the system.
Perhaps some club looking for extra non-roster depth will give Overton a call. As mentioned, he has some passable MLB work on his track record. He also posted a 2.21 ERA in 85 1/3 minor league innings over 2021 and 2022. He struck out 24.2% of batters in that time with a 4.7% walk rate. He then got hurt and was ineffective when he returned last year, but perhaps he can get back on track this year.
Photo courtesy of Reinhold Matay, Imagn Images
Whooooo?
righty pitcher who pitched in the bigs for toronto, pittsburgh, and cincinnati earlier this decade. i mean, it’s right there in the article — unless you were just trying to be a snarky baby and shading someone who actually made the major leagues, but surely there’s no shot you were doing that
Connor Overton, it seems.
The dude got released so obviously he isn’t a big name. He still is better at baseball than 99.9 of people here and reached the Major Leagues. Not every transaction here is going to be Juan Soto, for goodness sakes
As a fellow Rochesterian, Mets fan, and Red Wings fan, I have to say I like your whole vibe.
By releasing him, the Mets dodge a roster clog and let another team bet on his July 2025 breakout—when he’ll hit peak arm strength and still be cheap.
Not really dodging a roster clog since he wasn’t on the roster
With some more reps and miles on the new arm down in the minors, he could be a guy to take a shot on. By mid June he should be tuned up enough for a better analysis of what he’s truly got post surgery pitching competitively. Bullpen arms are volatile so someone could stash him on the farm for depth in hopes for a few good weeks at least.
Good to see that his friends and family use mlbtraderumors
Could well be useful when he fully heals. His 2021-2022 minor league numbers were terrific, albeit just in about a season and a half of work.
His MLB numbers in 2022 were distinctly odd. SSS caveats apply, but a 3.8/9 K rate, even in 33 innings? That’s unusual for the 21st century. He still managed a 0.970 WHIP even with the ball constantly being put into play against him, and he had the lowest HR rate on fly balls I’ve seen in years.
With a K-rate all over the place since Covid and more recovery on the schedule, it’s not surprising the Mets decided to move on. He could be better, though, than the worst reliever on a lot of teams. Someone will grab him.
His window may be closing
It’s just shifting.
(Underrated comment on your part.)
Agreed. I ashamed to have overlooked it.
Spring #s were OK. He’ll easily get a AAA deal with a team not particularly stocked on the Higher Minors level. Probably a couple opt out dates to keep himself available for another team in need if he gets himself right.