Mets Roster Central: Getting Caught Up in Our New Home

[Edgy MD]

Long has our roster gone without updates while we sorted through the boxes and hauled the furniture over in moving vans from the old place to the new. This has necessitated reprogramming the Mets Roster Central database as well. We apologize if this means catching up, but we need not go into Opening Day without a less-than-up-to-date roster.

Please note that Mets Roster Central Updates will no longer include endless scrolls through the entire Mets roster in the forum threads (Yay!).   We'll just provide the updates and post the full roster in the news articles.

Let's get caught up!

Transactions, 8/4/2025

GOING

Released

Outfielders

Willy Fanas

S/R DoB: 1/23/2004 High Level: A (2025)

We open, as too often happens, with an overlooked transaction from days gone by. These transactions, if nothing else, allow Mets Roster Central to update their database thumbnail photos of young prospects on the way out the door. Willy Fanas was signed as an 18-year-old and represented in the database by a grainy shot of him swinging the bat on the back field of a Dominican academy.

In his three-plus years in the Mets system, he showed a promising walk/speed package, but made too little contact — and too little consequential contact — to get more than semi-regular work, or to advance past A ball.

More interesting Fanas-fact is that the Mets only grabbed him after the Angels reneged on a deal — leading to a lawsuit filed by Willy and Keiderson Pavon, another prospect the Angels spurned. We don't know how that turned out, but it's always nice to see oft-exploited young Dominican ballplayers express their rights.

But enough about guys released last summer.

Transactions, 3/12/2026

COMING
Purchased from Washington (Frontier League), Projected for St. Lucie	Purchased from Lake Country (American Association), Projected for Brooklyn
Infielders	Outfielders
Cole Fowler	JT Benson
L/R DoB: 2002-12-10 High Level: Frontier League (2025)	R/R DoB: 2002-04-01 High Level: American Association (2024)

March isn't too late to go scouting indie-league guys. Cole and JT were probably already in Florida working out with some indy squads.

The two come to the Mets from very different college pedigrees. Cole Fowler plied his trade with Division II Lynn University in Boca Raton. While a handful of D-II players get pro contracts every year, and some even sneak into the draft, nobody touched young Cole, despite a senior year for the ages — going .438/.472 /.810 (!!) for a 1.281 OPS with the Fighting Knights. (Again, that's an .810 slugging percentage! By an infielder!) That was in a robust 230 plate appearances, but no MLB team would give him a tumble, until now.

JT Benson went the more traditional route, playing with Louisville in the elite Atlantic Coast Conference. Traditionally, when the draft was bigger, virtually all ACC players — even utility infielders and mop-up relievers- got a look on draft day. But JT, despite getting better every season and performing well in the wood-bat Northwoods Summer League, did not get a call.

Until now. Best of luck to them both.

Transactions, 3/14/2026

GOING	COMING
Placed on 60-Day Injured List with a Rib Fracture	Claimed off Waivers from WAS, In Camp, Projected for Syracuse, Despite Being Out of Options
Relief Pitchers	Relief Pitchers
Justin Hagenman	Richard Lovelady
R/R DoB: 35345 High Level: MLB (2025)	L/L DoB: 34887 High Level: MLB (2025)

Now, we move on to trannies that affect the current Mets roster directly. Justin Hagenman has been a swingman, but the Mets had been working him as a starter this spring, and they seemed serious about giving him a real look as a backup plan should one of their projected starters go down — and the nature of projected starters suggests they will. So this setback looks like a lost opportunity for Justin, but broken ribs heal, and there will be other opportunities down the road as the season unfolds.

The rib injury went largely unreported until the Mets needed a roster spot to reclaim the celebrated Richard Lovelady. Richard — nee Dicky — has been the subject of a tug of war between the Mets and the Nats, each trying to sneak him through waivers when they need a roster spot, each failing as the other gets all grabby. Richard is out of options, though, so unless an injury (especially to fellow lefty relievers Brooks Raley or Bryan Hudson) comes calling, there is a good chance he will get yet another ticket on the DFA train before the spring is out.

Dicky is a good pitcher, but it apparently takes more than one fractured rib to get him onto an MLB squad.

Transactions, 3/16/2026

COMING
Signed away from Sioux City (American Association) to Minor-League Contract, Projected for Brooklyn	Signed away from TOR to Minor-League Contract, Projected for Syracuse
Relief Pitchers	Infielders
Felix Cepeda	Eddinson Paulino
R/R DoB: 36722 High Level: AA (2024)	L/R DoB: 37439 High Level: AA (2025)

Just look at that smug smirk on the face of Felix Cepeda. With that cocky smile and that slash shaved through his eyebrow, you'd think he was coming with the Hall-of-Fame pedigree his name implies. But like Eddinson Paulino, he's a Dominican who has played out his six minor-league reserve years with a big-league organization — the Sox, in his case — without joining a big-league roster.

Paulino is probably the better bet, coming with just enough of a profile to possibly edge Grae Kessinger off the Syracuse roster. (We're talking a hair's difference — a single decimal point — so who knows how such a comparison would break in real life?)  Apart from bearing (a variation) on the name of a great inventor, he was a good average hitter in the low minors, but as he tried to add power to his profile.

Eddie was the Jay's (supposedly) 23rd-best prospect as recently as mid-2025, so it looks like he still has some upside. And to judge from that thumbnail shot of him, he's an athletic-looking, serious dude. 

In fairness, that may just be an illusion of seeing him next to Felix Cepeda, who just looks like a jerk.

Transactions, 3/17/2026

GOING
Optioned to Minor-League Camp, Projected for Syracuse	Reassigned to Minor-League Camp, Projected for Syracuse	Reassigned to Minor-League Camp, Projected for Binghamton	Reassigned to Minor-League Camp, Projected for Binghamton	Reassigned to Minor-League Camp, Projected for Syracuse
Starting Pitchers	Relief Pitchers	Relief Pitchers	Relief Pitchers	Infielders
Christian Scott	Adbert Alzolay	Nick Burdi	Daniel Duarte	Christian Arroyo
R/R DoB: 1999-06-15 High Level: AA (2024)	R/R DoB: 1995-03-01 High Level: MLB (2024)	R/R DoB: 1993-01-19 High Level: MLB (2025)	R/R DoB: 1996-12-04 High Level: MLB (2024)	R/R DoB: 1995-05-30 High Level: MLB (2023)
GOING		COMING
Reassigned to Minor-League Camp, Projected for Syracuse	Optioned to Minor-League Camp, Projected for Syracuse	Added to Projected Roster
Infielders	Outfielders	Outfielders
José Rojas	MJ Melendez	Jared Young
L/R DoB: 1993-02-24 High Level: MLB (2022)	L/R DoB: 1993-11-29 High Level: AA (2025)	L/R DoB: 1995-07-09 High Level: MLB (2025)

The St. Patrick's Day Massacre was when the Mets camp really began to get cleaned out in earnest, as a group of players with meaningful MLB experience went down.

Christian Scott and Adbert Alzolay, of course, both spent 2025 not pitching at all, so just getting through camp not hurt has to be at least some consolation.

The real big news here is MJ Melendez getting shipped out when he had the strongest profile of all the competitors for the fifth outfield spot. Profile — which we use here as a shorter version of accumulated statistical profile — isn't everything, of course, and part of what camp is about is figuring out who is maturing into form and who is fading.

While this is most immediately good news for the Jared Young Fan Club (they hold their meetings in taxis), that may well only be temporary. Jared gets the first look as he is on the roster, but still alive and seemingly coming on strong (.412 / .487 / .500 // .987 in 39 spring plate appearances) is Carson Benge. Evaluators will tell you that teams look beyond the numbers in such cases, but the numbers sure look good.

Also hanging around in the corners of the picture are Mike Tauchman, who profiles nicely as a lefty pinch-hitter, as well as Dominican ballhawk Cristian Pache. Pache wasn't expected to be sticking to the camp roster anywhere near this long, but an absolutely torrid spring (.464 / .516 / .786 // 1.302 in 31 plate appearances) has made him awfully hard to send away.

Transactions, 3/19/2026

GOING				COMING
Transferred to Minor-League Camp, Projected for Syracuse	Optioned to Minor-League Camp, Projected for St. Lucie	Transferred to Minor-League Camp, Projected for Syracuse	Optioned to Minor-League Camp, Projected for Syracuse	Added to Projected Roster
Relief Pitchers	Relief Pitchers	Relief Pitchers	Infielders	Infielders
Mike Baumann	Joey Gerber	Brandon Waddell	Ronny Mauricio	Francisco Lindor
R/R DoB: 1995-09-10 High Level: MLB (2024)	R/R DoB: 1997-05-03 High Level: MLB (2025)	L/L DoB: 1994-06-03 High Level: MLB (2025)	S/R DoB: 2001-04-04 High Level: MLB (2025)	S/R DoB: 1993-11-14 High Level: MLB (202

We get brought up to date with the clearing out of Brandon Waddell — just needed an injury to make the team in what has turned out to be a surprising (knock wood) injury-free spring since the bad Francisco Lindor news that opened camp, along with fellow vets Mike Baumann and Joey Gerber (somehow not reported to be nicknamed "Baby," who the Mets were presumably surprised to find still hanging around after getting only one and two innings, respectively, this spring.

But the real news that brings us up to date is the farming out of former top prospect Ronny Mauricio. Ronny still has upside, but his ticket to minor-league camp opens up a seat for the historically hard-to-keep-down Francisco Lindor, who is now all but guaranteed to be the Mets' Opening Day shortstop. As much as fate may still yet intervene, Francisco simply has a way of being master of his own fate.

And that brings you all up to date. Here's to our new home, and future updates from the folks at Mets Roster Central being short and sweet.

Your Mets Coaching Staff

Manager	Bench Coach	Pitching Coach	Hitting Coordinator	Third Base Coach	First Base Coach	Bullpen Coach	Ass't Pitching Coach
Carlos Mendoza	Kai Correa	Justin Willard	Jeff Albert	Tim Leiper	Gilbert Gomez	José Rosado	Dan McKinney
DoB: 1979-11-27	DoB: 1989-07-14	DoB: 1990-09-09	DoB: 1992-08-16	DoB: 1996-07-19	DoB: 1992-03-08	DoB: 1974-11-09	DoB: 1989-06-06
Hitting Coach	Strategy Coach	Catching Coach	Coaching Assistant	Bat'g Practice Pitcher	Equipment Manager	Bullpen Catchers	Bullpen Catchers
Troy Snitker	Danny Barnes	J.P. Arencibia	Rafael Fernandez	Kevin Mahoney	Kevin Kierst	Eric Langill	Dave Racaniello
DoB: 1988-12-05	DoB: 1989-10021	DoB: 1986-01-05	DoB: 1988-08-03	DoB: 1987-05-11	DoB: 1964-07-09	DoB: 1979-04-09	DoB: 1978-06-03

Your Mets Training Staff

Director of Player Health	Head Athletic Trainer	Assistant Athletic Trainer	Reconditioning Coordinator	Reconditioning Therapist	Head Performance Coach	Assistant Performance Coach	Performance Coordinator
Brian Chicklo	Joseph Golia	Bryan Baca	Sean Bardanett	Josh Bickel	Dustin Clarke	Tanner Miracle	Jeremy Chiang
DoB: 1972-07-17	DoB: 1978-??-??	DoB: Circa 1980	DoB: 1988-06-23	DoB: 1996-??-??	DoB: 1987-??-??	DoB: 1991-??-??	DoB: ????-??-??

Your 2026 New York Mets

	Starting Pitchers
	Clay Holmes	Sean Manaea	Nolan McLean	Freddy Peralta	David Peterson
	R/R DoB: 1993-03-27	R/L DoB: 1992-02-01	R/R DoB: 2001-07-24	R/R DoB: 2996-06-04	L/L DoB: 1995-09-03
Relief Pitchers
Huascar Brazobán	Luis Garcia	Tobias Myers	Brooks Raley	Kodai Senga	Bryan Hudson	Luke Weaver
R/R DoB: 1989-10-15	R/R DoB: 1987-01-30	R/R DoB: 1998-08-05	L/L DoB: 1988-06-29	L/R DoB: 1993-01-30	L/L DoB: 1997-05-08	R/R DoB: 1993-08-21
Relief Pitchers	Catchers		Infielders
Devin Williams	Francisco Alvarez	Luís Torrens	Bo Bichette	Vidal Brujan	Francisco Lindor	Jorge Polanco
R/R DoB: 1994-09-21	R/R DoB: 2001-11-01	R/R DoB: 1996-05-02	R/R DoB: 1998-03-05	S/R DoB: 1998-02-09	S/R DoB: 1993-11-14	S/R DoB: 1999-11-13
Infielders		Outfielders
Marcus Semien	Mark Vientos	Brett Baty	Luis Robert, Jr.	Juan Soto	Tyrone Taylor	Jared Young
R/R DoB: 1990-09-17	R/R DoB: 1993-12-11	L/R DoB: 1999-11-13	R/R DoB: 1997-08-03	L/L DoB: 36093	R/R DoB: 34356	L/R DoB: 1995-07-09

Also on 40-Player Roster

Starting Pitchers			Relief Pitchers
Tylor Megill	Christian Scott	Jonah Tong	Alex Carrillo	Reed Garrett	Joey Gerber	Justin Hagenman
R/R DoB: 1995-07-28	R/R DoB: 1999-06-15	R/R DoB: 2003-06-19	R/R DoB: 1997-06-06	R/R DoB: 1993-01-02	R/R DoB: 1997-05-03	R/R DoB: 1996-10-07
On 60-Day Injured List with torn right UCL.	In minor-league camp. Projected for Syracuse.	In minor-league camp. Projected for Syracuse.	In minor-league camp. Projected for St. Lucie.	On 60-Day Injured List — right UCL surgery and nerve relocation surgery.	Projected for Brooklyn.	On 60 Day Injured List with fractured rib.
Relief Pitchers						Catchers
Richard Lovelady	A.J. Minter	Dedniel Núñez	Jonathan Pintaro	Dylan Ross	Austin Warren	Ben Rortvedt
L/L DoB: 1995-07-07	L/L DoB: 1993-09-02	R/R DoB: 1996-06-05	R/R DoB: 1997-11-07	R/R DoB: 2000-09-01	R/R DoB: 1996-02-05	L/R DoB: 1997-09-25
Projected for Syracuse, despite being out of options.	Expected to open season on Injured List — left UCL tear.	On 60-Day Injured List — right UCL surgery.	In minor-league camp. Projected for Binghamton.	In minor-league camp. Projected for St. Lucie.	Projected for Syracuse.	Projected for Syracuse. Out of options.
Catchers	Infielders	Outfielders
Hayden Senger	Ronny Mauricio	MJ Melendez	Nick Morabito
R/R DoB: 1997-04-03	S/R DoB: 2001-04-04	L/R DoB: 1993-11-29	R/R DoB: 2003-05-07
Projected for Binghamton.	In minor-league camp. Projected for Syracuse.	In minor-league camp. Projected for Syracuse.	In minor-league camp. Projected for Binghamton.

Also in Camp

Relief Pitchers		Catchers	Outfielders
Kevin Herget	Craig Kimbrel	Austin Barnes	Carson Benge	Cristian Pache "	Mike Tauchman
L/R DoB: 1991-04-03	R/R DoB: 1988-05-28	R/R DoB: 1989-12-28	L/R DoB: 2003-01-20	R/R DoB: 1998-11-19	L/L DoB: 1990-12-03
Projected for Syracuse	Projected for Syracuse.	Projected for Binghamton.	Projected for Binghamton	Projected for Binghamton	Projected for Syracuse

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[MFS62]

Really looks good, edgy. 
kudos.

later

[Lefty Specialist]

I never noticed it before, but Kodai Senga has really nice teeth.

[Lefty Specialist]

Kimbrel gets zetzed, did not make the team and they're trying to figure out if he wants to go to Syracuse or try his hand on the free agent market.

[Frayed Knot]

Re: your bio line - the CPF was founded in 2001. It was during the 9/11 delayed World Series (which did the then unimaginable when the later games slid into November) when several still-here bodies decided that we should just transform our 'escape' forum into our full-time forum . November 1st 2001 has ever since been the CPF's unofficial/official launch date.

Oh, and I think you misspelled your Twitter handle.