Reese Kaplan -- Mets Roster Changes That Are or Can Be Made

Well, we all knew it was going to happen when the Mets needed a starting pitcher.  Who’s on the 40-man roster to make for a convenient call-up?  Who has been starting his entire minor league season?  Who has familiarity with the players and management of the Mets?  Why, that pretty much describes Tylor Megill.

What we didn’t mention is how awful he has been in the major leagues this season.  How bad?  Well, if not for the threatening-to-surpass-the-1962-Mets Chicago White Sox announcing their starting pitcher who has a 7.98 ERA, Tylor Megill’s 6.08 would generate an even bigger headline. 

While no one is particularly happy other than the Megill family about this expected transaction taking place, as mentioned before he is out of options at year’s end and the Mets do very much need to figure out his future in the organization.  Will he be a starter?  Will he follow suit like Jose Butto and convert to reliever?  Or will the Mets offer him up in a low level trade transaction to give him a shot elsewhere?

If not for the recent injury pushing Dedniel Nunez to the IL after just a single game appearance, the prospect of Butto returning to a starting role had some appeal.  Unfortunately with Nunez now out, Edwin Diaz coming off two out of three bad appearances, Adam Ottavino having a poor season and most of the rest of the pen this side of Phil Maton not having a long and positive track record, it’s pretty much impossible to sabotage your pen even more by moving Butto, hence the Megill arrival.  Throw in the fact that Butto has not been stretched out for starting pitching innings requirements and it would seem the Megill move is indeed the right one. 

The corresponding offensive move to make as Sunday’s September 1st expansion date arrives is a difficult one to figure out.  You could get some solid defenders like Jackie Bradley, Jr. or Drew Gilbert, but the former is not on the 40-man roster and the latter is only just back from a nearly season-long injury. 

Another possibility previously mentioned is D.J. Stewart who is at best a one-dimensional player for getting on base via the walk or the hit, but he hasn’t executed well, cannot run and is not a solid fielder. 

Speedy Luisangel Acuna is an interesting option who can play multiple positions, run like the wind and in previous seasons showed good bat discipline.  In AA he hit .294 in 2023 but this year has been one of struggle.  Still, as a late inning pinch runner or defensive replacement he could be useful but you’d squander an option by promoting him this year.

Then there are non-roster players who have performed fairly well.  The one who stands out the most is Luke Ritter.  For 2024 he is hitting .259 which is in Acuna’s range, but he’s added to that 24 HRs and 83 RBIs in 405 ABs.  Those offensive numbers are appealing and the Mets currently have a vacancy on their 40-man roster.  Still, at 27 and never having made it to the majors, the use of an option is not as much of an issue as it would be for the younger Acuna. 

As stated earlier this week, the prospect of a Syracuse stunning September surge to October baseball for the Mets is slim at best.