The Morning Report – December 13 – Thursday’s Transactions

John Mayberry Jr. stats as Pinch Hitter: 112 AB, .302/.355/.545/.900, 7-HR, 21-RBI

LHRP Scott Rice returned to the Mets and signed a minor league designed to compete for the second out of the Mets pen in 2015.For now, that competition included recently signed Sean Gilmartin and AA pitcher Darin Gorski.

The Mets left town without signing a lefty reliever so there really is nothing wrong with giving Rice a minor league contract at this point, but he’s not going to win a slot by repeating his 2014, 32-outing, 5.93-ERA performance in 2015. The Mets need more than this.

Gilmartin came to the Mets in Thursday’s Rule 5 Draft, which I always liked. It’s a way of channeling some of your players that have no chance of ever making it on your 25-man, to another team and giving them a second chance in this game.

John Sickles[i] comments on the Gilmartin pick -

12. New York Mets, Sean Gilmartin, LHP, Twins: Age 24, former Braves first round pick in 2011 out of Florida State who was traded to Minnesota last spring. Posted 3.71 ERA with 133/44 K/BB in 146 innings between Double-A and Triple-A this year. A classic finesse lefty, his heater is usually in the 80s and he survives by changing speeds and throwing strikes. He could stick as a fifth starter or relief option.

I’m pretty sure you’re going to see Gilmartin in the SP5 role, but he does give the Mets an option to add him to the pen as the second left: Verses left handed hitting in AAA - .201/.219./.235, 0 HR, 4 BB, 49 K (156 PA).

I remember Gilmartin vividly as part of the 2011 draft.

Draft notes from 7-23-10 –

USA CNT Roster Breakdown, Spring Stat Links and Trials Notes: - Sean Gilmartin RF/LF/LHP So. Florida St. Univ. - Trials Notes: Gilmartin's future is most likely on the mound, but he is listed as one of two utility players on the CNT roster and could see some time in an outfield corner or even at first base depending on what is needed during tournament play. He has some raw strength and loft and can put a charge into the ball when he barrels it, but he can get long in his load and can fall into the trap of dropping the bat into the hit zone, limiting its contact time. Quite simply, he needs to see more in-game reps to continue to grow at the plate -- there's some room for growth but he needs the at bats. Gilmartin is adequate at both the outfield corner and first, and shows some arms strength and carry out of right.  (interesting)

I wrote in December 2013 -

Sean Gilmartin – I bring up this guy to remind us how this game works sometimes.

Gilmartin was a flat out left hand pitching stud out of Florida State, that was drafted 28th overall by the Atlanta Braves in the 2011 draft. He had five starts that year at the full-A level and went 2-1, 2.53. He also had 30-Ks in 21.1-IP and the world was an oyster.

2012 brought 27 starts at AA and AAA which results in a record of 6-10, 3.84. Higher levels meant more plate patience by the batters and Gilmartin’s K/IP ratio fell to 111/157.0.

2013 was supposed to be the year that Gilmartin impressed at the AAA level and tested the MLB level in Atlanta. Instead, he started out going 1-5, 9.09, and wound up on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis.

He did finish the season a little stronger (3-8, 5.74) but any dreams of pitching in Atlanta were doused today when he was traded to Minnesota for a very mediocre catcher/outfielder, Ryan Doumit.

This was the guy that was going to challenge Julio Teheran for a rotation shot and now he’s looking at climbing up the latter again in a new organization. 

Tough game.

The Mets lost five players in the Rule 5 Players… pitchers Logan Verrett, Greg Peavey, Randy Fontanez, SS Juan Carlos Gamboa, and C Cam Maron.

None are considered major league potential players, though I will miss Maron for the stability he has given behind the plate in the system

The system still is overstocked with both starters and relievers.  Take Vegas alone…. On paper, there still are: 8 STARTERS (Noah Syndergard, Rafael Montero, Tyler Pill, Gabriel Ynoa, Rainy Lara, Darin Gorski, Matt Bowman, Corey Mazzoni) and 17 relievers (Jack Leathersich, Paul Seward, Hansel Robles, Jeff Walters, Chase Huchingson, Cody Satterwhite, Jon Velazquez, Kyle Regnault, Zack Thornton, Chase Bradford, Adam Kolarek, John Church, Gonzalez Germen, Dario Alvarez, Erik Goeddel, Jeff Walters, Scott Rice)

It’s frankly not much better in AA…7 starters (Steven Matz, Kevin McGowan, Domingo Tapia, Luis Cessa, Michael Fulmer, Luis Mateo, Michael Koch) and 9 relievers (Seth Lugo, Jake Kuebler, Julian Hilario, Beck Wheeler, Robert Coles, Shane Bay, Tim Peterson, Ryan Fraser (is he still with the team?), Angel Cuan)


Some previously lost players in Rule 5 Draft -   Rhiner Cruz (2011), Elvin Ramirez (2010 - returned), Jesus Flores (2006), David Mattox (2003), Lenny DiNardo (2003), Enrique Cruz (2002), Endy Chavez (2000, JOse Nunez (2000).

I do want to remind us Mets fans that, if the Mets had signed Michael Cuddyer 24-hours ago, both Sandy Alderson and TC would be all over the MLB-TV stage like the other suits that just put together a blockbuster deal. Sure, Sandy didn’t go crazy here, but he did get Cuddyer and a pretty decent outfield/first base back up in John Mayberry. Add that to the Gilmartin reclamation project and we may wind up quite happy with the whole thing in the long run.

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[i] http://www.minorleagueball.com/2014/12/11/7377259/2014-mlb-rule-5-draft-major-league-phase-results-and-reports