8/15/19

Mets September 40 man roster options and thoughts


This September the Mets’ active roster will expand one last time to 40 men.  Traditionally, the 15 extra players come from the current 40-man roster.  However, unless they activate players currently on the IL, the Mets will only be calling up the 11 healthy pitchers currently on the roster to make a 24-man bullpen.  

To make room for position players like a third catcher, an extra outfielder, an extra bat off the bench, and perhaps others, some of the 11 pitchers will need to be put on waivers to clear room. 


Who are these 11 pitchers?  

Tyler Bashlor, Chris Flexen, Chris Mazza, Eric Hanhold, Donnie Hart, Walker Lockett, Stephen Nogosek, Corey Oswalt, Tim Peterson, Brooks Pounders, and Daniel Zamora. 

We all have ones that we would take off and players in the minors we think should be added (Ruben Tejada, Raji Davis, etc.)  But this is not an easy decision.  Not only do the Mets need to focus on players that can help them win this September, they need to also keep in mind players that may need to be added to the 40-man roster or else risk losing them in the Rule 5 draft in December.  

I know, first things first, let’s try to win now.  However, there are some current non-roster players that can help the Mets this September that may need to be added to the 40-man roster after the season anyway.  Why not give them a look now? 

Looking at those two goals, win now and the potential rule 5 issue, here are the players I recommend calling up this September: 

Catcher: I think they should add two catchers Rene Rivera and Patrick Mazeika.  Rene Rivera, traditionally a good defender, has been having an outstanding offensive season with 23 Homers and 69 RBI’s in AAA.  He would provide a good right handed bat off the bench and provide depth at catcher.  

At the end of the year, he will be a free agent and provide a roster spot for the players on the IL that the Mets will want to keep.  Mazeika is a left handed hitting catcher that also plays first base so Binghamton can keep his bat in the lineup.  He has been a clutch hitter all season as he is third in the league with 62 RBI’s.  He also 14 homers with a walk off three run homer and a walk off grand slam.  

If the Mets don’t add him to their roster, he will surely be lost in the rule 5 draft.  He can help now and can help in the future, so why not give him a chance this September?  

I also think Ali Sanchez will be lost in the rule 5 draft as well unless he is added to the roster, but I would call up Rivera for his right handed bat for the win now goal due to his great season this year.

Infield: I would look at Arismendy Alcantara.  A switch hitter who can play the infield and the outfield, Arismendy is hitting .302 for the year with 10 homers, 41 RBI’s and 9 stolen bases.  He also has hit .302 in the last ten games. 

Outfield: Rajai Davis would get the call if it was up to me.  An experienced major league hitter who can come off the bench, homer or steal a base as needed.  He leads Syracuse with 19 steals this year hitting .280, 7 homers and 23 RBI’s. 

Pitching: I would look to call up Matt Blackham who has done very well since his call up from AA with a 1.08 ERA in 6 games and 8.1 innings.  Another potential Rule 5 Draft target, I think we should see if his success can translate to the majors.  

I would also bring back already on the roster pitchers Daniel Zamora, who had great success last year as a lefty specialist, recently optioned Chris Mazza, Eric Hanhold (hot and cold so far this year in both Binghamton and Cuse), and recently acquired lefty Donnie Hart.  That would still give the Mets an insane number of pitchers at 18 but hopefully some of these will help solve the bullpen issue. 

That’s a total of 9 extra players added to the current roster.  This would allow for players that may come off the IL to also be added or additional moves as needed.

These roster moves would not be easy as 5 of the current AAA pitchers on the roster would have to be placed on waivers.  This will need to happen in the winter anyway.  Why not do it now, for the pennant race and the future.

9 comments:

Tom Brennan said...

Lots to cover in who should be put on 40 man and called up in Sept:

Catcher: Rene Rivera, Ali Sanchez, and Patrick Mazeika - I'd like to see Rivera up here now. And either Ali Sanchez or Mazeika called up, too, and both added to 40 man.

Infield: Arismendy Alcantara - possible call up in Sept, depending how race is going - since they just promoted Ruben.

Outfield: Rajai Davis - I agree - anyone but Altherr.

Pitching: Matt Blackham - I agree, but I wonder why he has never been called up yet, despite his great minors career numbers. Odd that he has only pitched twice after August 1.

Daniel Zamora, Chris Mazza, Eric Hanhold, and Donnie Hart - seems pretty similar to the underperforming pen arms in the minors who are on the 40 man already.

Tyler Bashlor, Chris Flexen, Walker Lockett, Stephen Nogosek, Corey Oswalt, Tim Peterson, Brooks Pounders. Only Oswalt, who has failed repeatedly in the bigs, is impressing this year in AAA. Him I'd keep and hop ehe finally breaks thru. The rest? Lots of failure in that group. Who'd rush to claim them?

bill metsiac said...

Please refresh me on this : What makes a player Rule 5-eligible? I thought he has to be in the system for 5 or 6 years without making the 40.

John From Albany said...

Per Sports Illustrated: A player must have signed when they were 19 years or older and played professional baseball for four years are eligible. Players who signed at 18 and have played five years are also eligible. — Players currently on a team's 40-man roster are "protected" and are not eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft.Dec 13, 2018

John From Albany said...

I could be wrong but since Sanchez was signed in 2014 when under 19 and Mazeika in 2015 when he was over 19 they both will be eligible this year.

bill metsiac said...

Thanks, JFA! 👍

Mack Ade said...

All -

I am not a believer that a team has to stuff players into their dugout, most of which will never get a chance to play.

I agree on Sanchez, Rivera, and Mazeilka. We need their bats as well as Ali's ++ defensive skills

Alcantara and Davis are a must also.

Pitching wise, I would add Blackman and Nogozek to my pen. Maybe even Villines

Past that... steak knives

John From Albany said...

Love Villines. Wish he got longer look in AAA. Some pitchers need time to adjust to the different baseball that is being used in AAA and MLB. Think Villines will be rule 5 eligible as well.

Tony said...

The callups should be: Rene Rivera, Patrick Mazeika Arismendy Alcantara - Rajai Davis & Matt Blackham

John From Albany said...

Check that Villines was signed in 2017 so no Rule 5 draft potential. He will not be called up to MLB until next year at the earliest.