Mets Roster Central: Calving Season

[Edgy MD]

 

When Jorge Polanco hit the Injured list, it was with a right wrist contusion, but he had already been relegated to DH duty exclusively (along with forcing the Mets to deploy pinch runners on the occasions when he'd reach late in a game) by an injured calf. Now, the Mets' poor fortunes have forced them to bring back Juan Soto from the IL before he is able to play the field. 

His injury, too, was too the calf.

So now, with Francisco Lindor joining a club no one wants to join has brought scrutiny on Mets calf care. A pattern doesn't mean a common cause, but it sure leads to a common question.

Transactions, 4/16/2026

COMING

Transferred from St. Lucie to Brooklyn on Rehab Assignment

Relief Pitchers

A.J. Minter

L/L DoB: 1993-09-02 High Level: MLB (2025)

Mets Roster Central failed to announce this transaction in a timely matter, which is a shame because we love transactions.

A.J. Minter, absent for the last year following season-ending lat surgery (the lat is the calf of the back, we suspect) is working his way, we are excited to say, back. His return to the big-league roster would give Carlos Mendoza a second lefthanded late-inning option. (For the time being, Medoza has been deploying erstwhile starters Sean Manaea and David Peterson out of the bullpen, but that appears to be neither weaponizable nor sustainable. It is, insummary, sub-potimal.)

In his initial rehab assignment with St. Lucie, Minter threw two shutout innings in two appearances, striking out two and allowing no baserunners WHICH IS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.

Transactions, 4/21/2026

GOING	COMING
Retired	Signed as International Amateur Free Agent out of The Dominican Republic, Projected for DSL Orange
Relief Pitchers	Relief Pitchers
Brett Banks	Derlin Rojas
L/R DoB: 37167 High Level: A+(2026)	R/R DoB: 2007-07-21 High Level: Academy (2026)

On April 21st (the real Earth Day) one career ended and another began.

There's a story behind Brett Banks, but one we don't yet have. Brett, who went through back surgery way back in high school, Brett was in the midst of an encouraging minor league career (2.47 ERA over 53 games since the Mets grabbed him in the 11th round out of UNC-Wilmington in 2023), and after a typically impressive 2025 campaign, the Mets thought enough of him to send him to The Arizona Fall League.

But now, only three games (unscored upon in 4 1/3 innings) into the 2026 season, Brett has pulled the plug, and we can only guess he either sadly got bad news, or perhaps more happily found himself called to a new vocation. We will keep searching for updates.

With Brett bowing out, 18-year-old Darlin Rojas arrives to backfill in his place in the system. It's not exactly high season for signing Dominican teenagers, but Mets scouts are always keeping their ear to the ground, and Derlin's relatively advanced age means there is no window during which he can be signed.

Transactions, 4/22/2026

COMING

Transferred from Brooklyn to Syracuse on Rehab Assignment

Relief Pitchers

A.J. Minter

L/L DoB: 1993-09-02 High Level: MLB (2025)

Three things are inevitable — death, taxes, and A.J. Minter's relentless ascent up the rehabilitation ladder toward his return to MLB glory.

Among Mets veterans, A.J. is part of the exclusive Club J — joined by such illustrious fellow members as A.J. Ramos, C.J. Nitkowski, D.J. Carrasco, D.J. Dozier, DJ Stewart, J.J. Putz, current Met MJ Melendez, P.J. Conlon, R.J. Alvarez, T.J. McFarland, and T.J. Rivera. You'd think that, for the purposes of building such a club, locating a B.J. would be relatively low-hanging fruit, but alas.

A.J.'s victory, nonetheless continues, as he plowed through Brooklyn giving up no runs in 1 2/3 innings, and possibly encountered fellow lefty Brett Banks as he pondered his retirement.

Transactions, 4/23/2026

GOING	GOING	NEUTRAL	COMING	COMING
Demoted to Syracuse	Placed on 10-Day Injured List with Strained Left Calf	Transferred from Rotation	Promoted from Syracuse	Promoted from Syracuse
Relief Pitchers	Infielders	Relief Pitchers	Starting Pitchers	Infielders
Austin Warren	Francisco Lindor	David Peterson	Christian Scott	Ronny Mauricio
R/R DoB: 1996-02-05 High Level: MLB (2026)	S/R DoB: 1993-11-14 High Level: MLB (2026)	L/L DoB: 1995-09-03 High Level: MLB (2024)	R/R DoB: 1999-06-15 High Level: MLB (2024)	S/R DoB: 2001-04-04 High Level: MLB (2026)

Here we have the transaction day that gives this post its theme. Just as Juan Soto returns to the Mets they lose their other top everyday player to another calf injury. While the team is keeping details about the injury close to the vest, two things are clear: (1) the injury is more severe than Soto's, and (2) Francisco Lindor has a history (including already this season) of returning to the field in surprisingly short order despite serious injuries.   

Francisco has been outfitted in a boot for the time being, so even the most optimistic Lindor fanbois and fangirz have to expect an absence of at least two weeks. In the meantime, we have a chance for Ronny Mauricio, captain of Gondor, to show his quality.

Ronny returns to the Mets following a three-homer, five RBI game against Worcester on Tuesday, and before the Mets 12-game losing streak, it was a deep walkoff drive by Ronny that had given them their last win.

Ronny is listed at only 6'3", but up at the plate, it looks like 5'3" of that is legs, and Mets Roster Central has noted a Darryl Strawberry-ish loop to his swing, along with the bat speed to take the high fastball the other way, but we're concerned those long limbs will make it hard for him to stick at shortstop. We, nonethless, are rooting loudly for him to stick on the roster this time around.

Transactions, 4/24/2026

GOING	NEUTRAL	COMING
Demoted to Syracuse	Transferred from Bullpen	Added to 40-Player Roster and Promoted from Syracuse
Starting Pitchers	Starting Pitchers	Relief Pitchers
Christian Scott	David Peterson	Carl Edwards, Jr.
R/R DoB: 1999-06-15 High Level: MLB (2026)	L/L DoB: 1995-09-03 High Level: MLB (2024)	R/R DoB: 33484 High Level: MLB (2025)

Christian Scott, as noted in the transaction above, returned to the big leagues after and absence of a season-plus following a career-interrupting visit from The UCL Phantom. Christian's start was ineffective, but it was good to see him back and healthy as the Mets got the win anyhow.

Christian's quick boomerang back to the minors seemingly returns David Peterson to the rotation after working out of the bullpen his last two appearances. Carlos Mendoza, on the other hand, could possibly keep partnering him with an opener, but somebody needs to tell manager Carlos that the point of an opener is to push your "starter" deeper into games, so pulling Peterson after four innings isn't getting it done, strategically.

If Peterson is deployed as such, his opening partner may be Carl Edwards, Jr.  Carl hadn't been killing it in AAA, and he wasn't on the roster, but as a veteran of over 10 years in the big leagues, he was the sort of guy to jump the line. If he doesn't show much, well, maybe he buys a little bit more development time for Alex Carillo or somebody.

Because aren't we all — you, me, the trash collectors, the cops, the zookeepers, and the president himself — just trying to keep a lid on things until somebody else comes along?

Your 2026 New York Mets

	Starting Pitchers
	Clay Holmes	Nolan McLean	Freddy Peralta	David Peterson	Kodai Senga
	R/R DoB: 1993-03-27	R/R DoB: 2001-07-24	R/R DoB: 2996-06-04	L/L DoB: 1995-09-03	L/R DoB: 1993-01-30
Relief Pitchers
Huascar Brazobán	Carl Edwards, Jr.	Craig Kimbrel	Sean Manaea	Tobias Myers	Brooks Raley	Luke Weaver
R/R DoB: 1989-10-15	R/R DoB: 33484	R/R DoB: 32291	R/L DoB: 1992-02-01	R/R DoB: 1998-08-05	L/L DoB: 1988-06-29	R/R DoB: 1993-08-21
Relief Pitchers	Catchers		Infielders		Infielders
Devin Williams	Francisco Alvarez	Luís Torrens	Brett Baty	Bo Bichette	Ronny Mauricio	MJ Melendez
R/R DoB: 1994-09-21	R/R DoB: 2001-11-01	R/R DoB: 1996-05-02	L/R DoB: 1999-11-13	R/R DoB: 1998-03-05	S/R DoB: 2001-04-04	L/R DoB: 1993-11-29
Infielders		Outfielders
Marcus Semien	Mark Vientos	Carson Benge	Tommy Pham	Luis Robert, Jr.	Juan Soto	Tyrone Taylor
R/R DoB: 1990-09-17	R/R DoB: 1993-12-11	L/R DoB: 2003-01-20	R/R DoB: 32210	R/R DoB: 1997-08-03	L/L DoB: 1998-10-25	R/R DoB: 34356

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.		With Syracuse	With Syracuse	On 60-Day Injured List — right UCL surgery and nerve relocation surgery.	On 15-Day Injured List with blistered right finger.	On 60 Day Injured List with fractured rib.
Relief Pitchers					Catchers	Infielders
A.J. Minter	Dedniel Núñez	Jonathan Pintaro	Dylan Ross	Austin Warren	Hayden Senger	Francisco Lindor
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	R/R DoB: 1997-04-03	S/R DoB: 1993-11-14
With Syracuse on Rehab Assignment	On 60-Day Injured List — right UCL surgery.	With Syracuse	With Syracuse, on Seven-Day IL	With Syracuse	With Syracuse	On 10-Day Injured List with Strained Left Calf
Infielders	Outfielders
Jorge Polanco	Nick Morabito	Jared Young
S/R DoB: 1999-11-13	R/R DoB: 2003-05-07	L/R DoB: 1995-07-09
On 10-Day Injured List with right wrist contusion.	With Syracuse	On 10-Day Injured List with torn left meniscus.

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