The Mets just signed Daniel Palka and Kevin Gadea to minor league deals and added them to AAA.
Palka, 30, is a 6'2", 240 RF (with some 1B) who played very well for the Chicago White Sox in 2017 (.240 with 27 HRs and 67 RBIs in 417 ABs), but miserably (9 for 84, 35 Ks) in a shorter stint in 2018, and not since.
Yet, the MLB pedigree makes him worthwhile insurance and should be a solid upgrade at AAA. His last 2 seasons in AAA, he has hit .260/.370/.500. His minor league K rate has improved.
Career #PalkSmash 39 & 40 in a Red Wings uniform 💪 pic.twitter.com/65a2KFETh8
Gadea is a 6'5" righty, a former 4th overall pick, who pitched well into 2016, but needed Tommy John, and then lost COVID time, amazingly missing 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020! Wow.
He returned with the Yanks' farm in relief in 2021 and in AA and AAA, pitched very well:
2-1, 2.61, 28 games, 58 Ks in 41 IP, .197 BAA, but 23 walks. He certainly seems like the sort of guy that could at a minimum get an occasional call-up to the Mets. He is 19-7, 2.63 in his MILB career.
The #Mets have also signed Kevin Gadea, a 27-year-old RHP from Nicaragua.
After missing *four* years due to TJS and Covid, Gadea posted a 2.61 ERA between Double-A and Triple-A with the Yankees in 2021. pic.twitter.com/W5q66j1fEM
Both at a minimum will help the Mets minors be more competitive. Considering Mets' minors team records last year, that is a good thing.
Me? I'd still like to see TJ Rivera similarly signed to a deal, but that's just me. His MLB average (.304) is 85 points higher than that of Palka. I think TJ still has some magic in the tank. He hit .270 in AAA last year.
9 comments:
Great info Tom. Thanks.
John, if you want to add any videos to this article, feel free. Thanks
Loads of good stuff...thanks Tom.
That guy Gadea sounds really intriguing. Looks like a possible find.
Ah...TJ Rivera. I really liked that guy. I really thought that he could hit.
The Mets should sign him and keep him in the organization when he retires.
Joe P - I like Tom's suggestion that TJ should look into playing in Japan or Korea for a year. He could see a rebound.
John, that's very true. Especially with the lock out. Last chance to earn some money. I still like the idea of bringing him back to the organization when he retires. Scrappy guys make great coaches.
Nah, we can do better than TJ.
Ray doesn't like career .304 hitters LOL. I knew Ray was waiting to jump on TJ.
I am bummed, though, that he had a pitchers' injury as a non-pitcher, that derailed what he might have become. He was building a very nice career for himself.
Gentlemen, TJ's odds are steep, and who knows if he'd have any interest in Korea or Japan (or vice versa) but a good paycheck could be had over there if TJ feels his chances of an MLB comeback are too much of a long shot.
Funny that Palka's 2017 was better than Conforto's 2021. In the video, he looked a lot like Mike. Amazing how some guys almost make it while others become regulars.
And don’t forget the Plumber kid,he could be the lightning in the bottle guy!
Every strong organization needs a good Plummer. Especially one named Nick around Christmastime.
Kidding aside, Nick Plummer will be a very intriguing talent to watch in 2022. # 9 on the Mets prospect list.
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