Mack - 2019 Mets Transactions

Week: 4-29:

      AA-Binghamton OF Alfredo Escalera-Maldonado was placed on their Injured List. Escalera is a 24-year old that started out as an 8^th round pick in 2012 by Kansas City. He has never got past the AA level and his best season was 2015 when he hit .313 in the Sally League. So far this season, he has batted .118 in 17 at-bats for the Rumble Ponies.

      AA-Binghamton also activated their leading hitter (.320), OF Barrett Barnes. We’ve talked about him here when he was placed on the IL in April. Look, we need all the good hitting outfield talent we can find. Barnes is 27-years old which is a lot younger than guys like Carlos Gomez. If you hit .320 on my AA-team, you will get a plane ticket to my AAA team and the rest of your future begins there.

      AA-Binghamton also reactivated P Mickey Jannis. The 31-year old has gotten off to a slow start this season, but his first salvo this season on Tuesday night was a gem: 7.0-IP, 0-R, 0.00.

      AAA-Syracuse activated catcher Colton Plaia from the injured list. Plaia got off to a fast start this season (8-AB, .375) but was then sent to the IL. He really has never hit bad as a pro (7 seasons, .252) but, at the same time, he really has never played up to expectations. Best season: 2015, A+ St. Lucie, 274-AB, .285).

      AAA-Syracuse also placed P Corey Taylor on the temporary inactive list. The 26-year old has been pitching well so far this season (6-G, 14.2-IP, 1.84), though he does need to work on his WHIP numbers (1.36). These ‘temp’ inactive assignment tend to just be something that is needed to move pieces around the game board, so I am sure we will see him back soon.

      AAA-Syracuse officially added P Corey Oswalt after failing in his latest outing for the Mets. Oops, there it is. Taylor out, Oswalt in. Oswalt has hit that wall that so many minor leagues reach, both as successful minor league pitchers, but batters as well. They either can’t make the adjustments to exceed at the pro level, or they have reached the limits of their talent. I really wish they would just try something different here, like converting him to a reliever.

      A-Columbia transferred C Juan Uriarte to Low-A Brooklyn. Sad. All this kid needs is a chance to play and he just can’t seem to get it. Best year: 2017 K-Port, 200-AB, .305

      The Fireflies then activated catcher Carlos Sanchez activated from the Columbia injured list. Enter back the 22-year old Venezuelan, who’s best season was in 2016 for the GCL-Mets (142-AB, .317). So far this season, he is 1-4 (.250) here in Columbia.

      A-Columbia very quietly activated P Thomas Szapucki, who failed this test for full recovery: 0.1-IP, 1-ER, 2-H, 2-BB. I’m not sure at this point we will ever see the Szapucki of old. Another sad Mets pitching story of 2019.


      The Mets placed RP Jeurys Familia on the 10-day IL with a shoulder soreness (that was later diagnosed as a lesion - bone spur found during the MRI). Maybe this is reason things have gone so bad for another pitcher we expected so much from this year.


      Familiar's 25-man slot was filled by P Ryan O'Rourke. The 31-year old O'Rourke was originally a product of the Twins organization. He came to the Mets from Baltimore after the 2018 season and has been 0-2, 1.26, 0.63, in nine appearances for AAA-Syracuse so far this season. Why not give him a chance.


      Lastly, the Mets reactivated P P.J. Conlon and assigned him to AA-Binghamton.