Mets Roster Central: Hot Potato Time

It takes a lot out of Mets Roster Central, the early days of November.  While minors leagues who have failed to advance and the Mets are parting ways, the organization is also involved in a league-wide game of Hot Potato.  They want to clear room on their roster for valuable minor-league vets that they want to protect from the Rule 5 Draft, but ... so do other teams.  So no sooner do they clear spaces than players from across the league appear on the waiver wire.  The Mets (a) like some of these guys, and so (b) claim them, at which point (c) they again have to create room on the roster by putting somebody else through waivers or refuse-able minor-league assignments, which (d) often include the players they just claimed.

Circles within circles. 

Transactions, 10/29/2026

GOING	GOING	GOING	GOING
Released	Released	Released	Released
Relief Pitchers	Catchers	Infielders	Infielders
Cristian Dudamel	Jesús Griman	Angel Ozuna	José Padilla
R/R DoB: 2006-11-06 High Level: DSL (2026)	R/R DoB: 2008-03-13 High Level: DSL (2026)	S/R DoB: 2007-07-06 High Level: DSL (2026)	L/R DoB: 39623 High Level: DSL (2026)

Some minor-league players fail to advance, some advance but just not fast enough to beat the clock the team has on their reserve powers, and some just use up too much of that time recovering from injury.

While all of these are from the first group, the fascinating (and tragic) figure here is Angel Ozuna.  The Dominican infielder originally agreed with the Yankees to a $5 million dollar deal, as a member of the 2027 class.  Well, you'll all realize right now that 2027 hasn't happened yet, and that is because he was, not one, not two, but three years older than his listed age.  And with that baby face appearing to your left, you can see how folks were fooled.  But, you know, caveat emptor and all that

The Yankees quickly lost interest, as Ozuna served a one-year suspension, and he ultimately came to an agreement with the Twins for $500,000 in November.  That's 10% of $5 million, but, you know, it's more money than Mets Roster Central has in our pockets.  But he must've made an additionally terrible first impression, because the deal fell  through, and the Mets signed him in June, for $10,000, which is 2% of $5 million.  And that may be the last money the young man and his misled family see from baseball, because after a half season and only 70 plate appearances, the Mets, too, are walking away.

More tears are being shed for Cristian Dudamel, who Mets Roster Central believed to be descended from both Lucas Duda and Duke Carmel.

Transactions, 11/1/2026

GOING	GOING	GOING	GOING
Removed from 40-Player Roster and Assigned to Syracuse	Removed from 40-Player Roster and Assigned to Syracuse	Removed from 40-Player Roster and Assigned to Syracuse	Cleared Waivers, Removed from 40-Player Roster and Assigned to Syracuse
Relief Pitchers	Relief Pitchers	Infielders	Outfielders
Philip Abner	Cameron Weston	Eric Wagaman	Cristian Pache
L/L DoB: 2002-05-04 High Level: MLB (2026)	R/R DoB: 2000-08-27 High Level: MLB (2026)	R/R DoB: 1997-08-14 High Level: MLB (2026)	R/R DoB: 2020-08-21 High Level: MLB (2026)

Philip Abner and Cameron Weston are two players caught up in the ugly game that gives this thread its name.  You grab players off waivers, only to put them on waivers yourself, never intending to carry him on the roster, gambling the price of a claiming fee that nobody behind you will be claiming him a day or too later.

As often as not, the player is grabbed again, and he moves on, never having suited up for your team, never even shaken the hand of a member of the organization he's technically a member of for a few days.  If anything, some MLB.com web editor will change the hat on his thumbnail portrait, it'll get proliferated over the Internet, and decades later, his kids will ask, "Dad, when did you ever play for the Mets."

They will show the thumbnail to the now-myopic former player, he will squint with confusion and whisper, "I have no memory of this place." 

More traditional are the removal from the roster of Eric Wagaman, a hitter who was lacking in hits in 2026, and Cristian Pache, a speedster who was lacking in appearances.  Both should be expected to refuse these assignments.

Transactions, 11/2/2026

GOING	GOING	GOING	GOING
Claimed off Waivers by BAL	Claimed off Waivers by MIA	Refused Minor-League Assignment, Becoming Free Agent	Designated for Assignment
Relief Pitchers	Relief Pitchers	Infielders	Outfielders
Philip Abner	Cameron Weston	Eric Wagaman	Kyren Paris
L/L DoB: 2002-05-04 High Level: MLB (2026)	R/R DoB: 2000-08-27 High Level: MLB (2026)	R/R DoB: 1997-08-14 High Level: MLB (2026)	R/R DoB: 2001-11-11 High Level: MLB (2026)
GOING	COMING	COMING	COMING
Elected Free Agency	Claimed off Waivers from MIN, Projected for Syracuse	Claimed off Waivers from COL, Projected for Syracuse	Re-Signed, Projected for Syracuse, Designated for Assignment
Outfielders	Starting Pitchers	Relief Pitchers	Infielders
José Ramos	Jack Anderson	Pierson Ohl	Christian Cairo
R/R DoB: 36892 High Level: MLB (2026)	R/R DoB: 1999-11-23 High Level: MLB (2026)	R/R DoB: 1999-09-10 High Level: MLB (2026)	R/R DoB: 2001-06-11 High Level: MLB (2026)

Going, going, GONE! are are Philip Abner and Cameron Weston.  They pay a waiver claim fee, and we guess they receive one.  So there's nothing lost but a few days' interest fees, but the dehumanization of treating players as fungible commodities is a price we all pay.

You didn't even get a chance to appreciate that Abner was one of those mysterious one-L Philips.  Not a Phillip, but a Philip.

Waggy unsurprisingly puts out a FREE AGENT shingle in front of is house, and Kyren Paris becomes the next claimee to be re-exposed to new claimants.

But are the Mets still claiming guys to replace those guys they claimed that they then exposed and saw get claimed again?!  OH, YEAH!  Please welcome to the Mets seat on the November MLB Merry-Go-Round Jack Anderson and Pierson Ohl!  Look at those sexy Mets hats that they've never worn but somebody digitally put on their heads!  (Disclaimer: By the time you read this, those hats may be replaced.)

Met legacy Cristian Cairo gets a double dose of merry-go-round misery, getting re-signed and waived on the same f#@%-ing day!

Transactions, 11/3/2026

GOING	GOING	GOING	GOING
Removed from Projected Coaching Staff, Projected for Syracuse	Opted for Minor-League Free Agency	Opted for Minor-League Free Agency	Opted for Minor-League Free Agency
Projected Co-Hitting Coach	Starting Pitchers	Starting Pitchers	Relief Pitchers
Nate Irving	Bryce Conley	Joander Suarez	Joshua Corniely
R/R DoB: 1992-10-17 High Level: AAA (2026)	R/R DoB: 1994-08-22 High Level: MLB (2026)	R/R DoB: 2000-02-27 High Level: AAA (2026)	R/R DoB: 2001-01-15 High Level: AAA (2025)
GOING	GOING	GOING	GOING
Opted for Minor-League Free Agency	Opted for Minor-League Free Agency	Opted for Minor-League Free Agency	Opted for Minor-League Free Agency
Relief Pitchers	Relief Pitchers	Relief Pitchers	Relief Pitchers
Carlos Guzman	José Marte	Matt Seelinger	Guillo Zuñiga
R/R DoB: 1998-05-16 High Level: AAA (2026)	R/R DoB: 1996-06-14 High Level: MLB (2024)	R/R DoB: 1995-04-19 High Level: MLB (2026)	R/R DoB: 1998-10-10 High Level: MLB (2026)
GOING	GOING	NEUTRAL	COMING
Opted for Minor-League Free Agency	Refused Minor-League Assignment, Becoming Free Agent	Transferred from Projected Strategy Coach	Hired as Strategy Coach
Catchers	Outfielders	Co-Hitting Coach	Strategy Coach
Vincent Perozo	Cristian Pache	Mariano Duncan	A.J. Ellis
L/R DoB: 2003-03-06 High Level: AAA (2026)	R/R DoB: 2020-08-21 High Level: MLB (2026)	R/R DoB: 1963-03-13 High Level: AA (2026)	R/R DoB: 1981-04-09 High Level: AAA (2026)

We're starting to see Mets manager Andy Green put his own stamp on a coaching staff that had largely been formed by and for his predecessor Carlos Mendoza.  New strategy coach A.J. Ellis likely crossed his path during his days as manager of the Padres, where Ellis toiled in the front office.  Mystery coach Mariano Duncan similarly worked with Green on the development side with the Mets.

This forces Mets Roster Central to put park Dunc in the co-hitting coach slot, as it is the only one that's open, and jettison speculative placeholder Nate Irving and his burry thumbnail pic.

Bryce Conley and Joander Suarez were never top prospects for the Mets, but they pitched well enough to the very top of the system without being pushed to the bullpen, and were in a good position to get a Spring Training invite and thrown an sink-or-swim emergency start to see what happens.  Conley even got so tantalizingly close to receive a callup in early August, but he was DFA'd two days later without making an appearance.

Suarez was lovingly known as "Joander vander Meer" in MRC circles, as he once reeled off consecutive no-hit starts back in late August/early September of 2023.  Of course, those were six- and seven-inning starts due to the conspiracy of those in charge to make everything about baseball worse.  Combined with his previous and following starts Joander wound up throwing and astounding 20 consecutive innings of one-hit ball with the Cyclones and Rumble Ponies that fall.  We are sorry to see him file for free agency and wish him well.

Similarly progressing-but-out-of-time are relievers Joshua Cornielly, Carlos Guzman, and Matt Seelinger.  Seelinger, along with Guillo Zuñiga, made one-game cameos with the Mets.  Zuñiga, whose aunt won John Cusack's heart in The Sure Thing, did alright, but poor Seelinger was absolutely hammered for seven runs in an inning in his MLB debut, and then did about the manliest thing any Met did in 2026, going back out there for one more inning and shutting the Royals down.

Transactions, 11/5/2026

NEUTRAL	GOING
Transferred from Projected Co-HItting Coach	Hired away from ATL
Assistant Coach	Co-Hitting Coach
Mariano Duncan	Johnny Washington
R/R DoB: 1963-03-13 High Level: AA (2026)	R/R DoB: 1984-05-06 High Level: MLB (2026)

While we round out he staff with Johnny Washington — one more figure with a San Diegan background — we are forced to concede that the shadowy coachship of Mariano Duncan is to remain cloudy for the immediate future, tagged with the ambiguous title of "assistant coach," his duties possibly not to be revealed until the 2027 media guide drops.

More interestingly, as former Mets batting instructor Eric Chavez has gone hither and yon telling everyone who would listen that the Mets were foolish in splitting up the batting instruction between two positions, the team is seemingly trolling him by flattening their organizational structure even further.  While previously there was at least hierarchy in the batting staff, with one coach designated as "director of major league hitting" and the other as simply "hitting coach" or even "assistant hitting coach," now we have two guys (Washington and Brian Snitker) each labeled as "co-hitting coach."  Something has to give, right?

Something indeed has to give, and that's why we invite you to stick with Mets Roster Central, as the big league roster evolves into the well oiled unit that will bring wins by the dozens in 2027.

Your Projected 2027 New York Mets

	Starting Pitchers
	Sean Manaea	Nolan McLean	Christian Scott	Zach Thornton	Jonah Tong
	R/L DoB: 1992-02-01	R/R DoB: 2001-07-24	R/R DoB: 1999-06-15	L/L DoB: 2002-01-17	R/R DoB: 2003-06-19
Relief Pitchers
Chayce McDermott	Tobias Myers	Cionel Pérez	Kodai Senga	Robert Stock	Austin Warren	Devin Williams
L/R DoB: 1998-08-22	R/R DoB: 1998-08-05	R/L DoB: 1996-04-21	L/R DoB: 1993-01-30	L/R DoB: 1989-11-21	R/R DoB: 1996-02-05	R/R DoB: 1994-09-21
Relief Pitchers	Catchers		Infielders
Jefry Yan	Francisco Alvarez	Luís Torrens	Bo Bichette	Francisco Lindor	Ronny Mauricio	Jorge Polanco
L/L DoB: 1996-08-17	R/R DoB: 2001-11-01	R/R DoB: 1996-05-02	R/R DoB: 1998-03-05	S/R DoB: 1993-11-14	S/R DoB: 2001-04-04	S/R DoB: 1999-11-13
Infielders			Outfielders
Marcus Semien	Mark Vientos	Jared Young	Brett Baty	Carson Benge	A.J. Ewing	Juan Soto
R/R DoB: 1990-09-17	R/R DoB: 1993-12-11	L/R DoB: 1995-07-09	L/R DoB: 1999-11-13	L/R DoB: 2003-01-20	L/R DoB: 2004-08-10	L/L DoB: 1998-10-25

Also on 40-Player Roster

Starting Pitchers		Relief Pitchers
Jack Anderson	Tylor Megill	Daniel Duarte	Reed Garrett	Justin Hagenman	Nathan Lavender	Dedniel Núñez
DoB: 1999-11-23	DoB: 1995-07-28	DoB: 1996-12-04	DoB: 1993-01-02	DoB: 1996-10-07	DoB: 2000-01-20	DoB: 1996-06-05
Relief Pitchers				Catchers	Infielders	Outfielders
Pierson Ohl	Jonathan Pintaro	Dylan Ross	Jack Weisen- berger	Hayden Senger	Christopher Morel	Nick Morabito
DoB: 1999-09-10	DoB: 1997-11-07	DoB: 2000-09-01	DoB: 1997-10-08	DoB: 1997-04-03	DoB: 1999-06-24	DoB: 2003-05-07

Your Projected Mets Coaching Staff

Manager	Bench Coach	Pitching Coach	Co-Hitting Coord.	Co-Hitting Coach	Third Base Coach	First Base Coach	Bullpen Coach
Andy Green	Kai Correa	Justin Willard	Troy Snitker	Johnny Washington	Tim Leiper	Gilbert Gomez	José Rosado
DoB: 1977-07-07	DoB: 1989-07-14	DoB: 1990-09-09	DoB: 1988-12-05	DoB: 1984-05-06	DoB: 1996-07-19	DoB: 1992-03-08	DoB: 1974-11-09
Strategy Coach	Assistant Coach	Catching Coach	Coaching Assistant	Bat'g Pract. Pitcher	Equip. Manager	Bullpen Catchers	Bullpen Catchers
A.J. Ellis	Mariano Duncan	J.P. Arencibia	Rafael Fernandez	Jonathon Cramman	Kevin Kierst	Eric Langill	Dave Racaniello
DoB: 1981-04-09	DoB: 1963-03-13	DoB: 1986-01-05	DoB: 1988-08-03	DoB: 1991-03-23	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	Recond. Coordinator	Recond. Therapist	Head Performance Coach	Assistant Performance Coach	Performance Coordinator	Soft Tissue Specialist
Brian Chicklo	Joseph Golia	Bryan Baca	Sean Bardanett	Josh Bickel	Dustin Clarke	Tanner Miracle	Jeremy Chiang	Hiroto Kawamura
DoB:1972-07-17	DoB:1978-??-??	DoB:Circa 1980	DoB:1988-06-23	DoB:1996-??-??	DoB:1987-??-??	DoB:1991-??-??	DoB:????-??-??	DoB:1962-07-19

2026-2027 MLB Free Agents

Hitting Coord.	Strategy Coach	Bat'g Pract. Pitcher	Relief Pitchers	Infielders
Jeff Albert	Danny Barnes	Kevin Mahoney	Joey Gerber	Eric Waga- man
DoB: 1992-08-16	DoB: 1989-10021	DoB: 1987-05-11	DoB: 1997-05-03	DoB: 1997-08-14

2026-2027 Minor-League Free Agents

Starting Pitchers							Relief Pitchers
Eris Albino	Bryce Conley	Dalton Mall	Matteo Morelli	Christopher Rochin	Joander Suarez	Omar Victorino	Luis Alvarez	Jesüs Anton	Mike Baumann
R/R DoB: 2004-02-24	R/R DoB: 1994-08-22	R/R DoB: 1999-08-27	R/R DoB: 2006-02-27	R/R DoB: 2006-09-18	R/R DoB: 2000-02-27	R/R DoB: 2005-06-09	R/R DoB: 2003-05-05	R/R DoB: 2006-02-17	R/R DoB: 1995-09-10
Relief Pitchers
Yoralbert Cadíz	Joe Charles	Joshua Corniely	Colton Cosper	Anthony Crespo	Xzavion Curry	Chris Devenski	Franyel Diaz	Cristian Dudamel	Carlos Guzman
R/R DoB: 2004-10-24	R/R DoB: 2000-04-05	R/R DoB: 2001-01-15	L/L DoB: 2002-09-08	R/R DoB: 2004-05-04	R/R DoB: 36003	R/R DoB: 1990-11-13	R/R DoB: 2004-12-18	R/R DoB: 2006-11-06	R/R DoB: 1998-05-16
Relief Pitchers
Kevin Herget	Joe Jacques	Wilson Lopez	José Marte	Yoelvis Martinez	Trey McGough	Pablo Medina	Jahzeel Montas	Layonel Ovalles	Zach Peek
L/R DoB: 1991-04-03	L/L DoB: 34769	R/R DoB: 2002-07-15	R/R DoB: 1996-06-14	R/R DoB: 2006-06-21	L/L DoB: 1998-03-29	L/L DoB: 2006-10-12	R/R DoB: 2005-01-06	R/R DoB: 2003-06-16	R/R DoB: 35921
Relief Pitchers							Catchers
Anthony Reynoso	Matt Seelinger	Jun-Seok Shim	Jermayne Verdu	Deivy Victora	Brandon Waddell	Guillo Zuñiga	José Aular	Austin Barnes	Jesús Griman
L/L DoB: 39102	R/R DoB: 1995-04-19	R/R DoB: 2004-04-09	?/R DoB: 2006-07-27	R/R DoB: 2005-08-14	L/L DoB: 1994-06-03	R/R DoB: 1998-10-10	R/R DoB: 2004-01-02	R/R DoB: 1989-12-28	R/R DoB: 2008-03-13
Catchers		Infielders
Vincent Perozo	Daniel Silva	Christian Arroyo	TT Bowens	Vidal Brujan	Taylor Darden	Jefrey De Los Santos	Alexander Eneas	Cole Fowler	Leandy Mella
L/R DoB: 2003-03-06	S/R DoB: 2005-01-12	R/R DoB: 1995-05-30	R/R DoB: 1998-05-27	S/R DoB: 1998-02-09	R/R DoB: 2000-01-16	R/R DoB: 2003-05-30	R/R DoB: 2007-09-12	L/R DoB: 2002-12-10	L/R DoB: 2007-02-24
Infielders
Diego Mosquera	"Angel Ozuna "	José Padilla	Sam Robertson	José Rojas	Nick Roselli	Dangelo Sarmiento	JT Schwartz	Zack Short	Kevin Villav- incencio
L/R DoB: 2005-05-14	S/R DoB: 2007-07-06	L/R DoB: 39623	R/R DoB: 2004-07-17	L/R DoB: 1993-02-24	L/R DoB: 2003-03-31	R/R DoB: 38356	L/R DoB: 1999-12-17	R/R DoB: 1995-05-29	R/R DoB: 2003-11-24
Infielders		Outfielders
Trace Willhoite	Wyatt Young	Haniel German	Simon Juan	MJ Melendez	Adolfo Miranda	Jared Oliva	Jaylen Palmer	José Ramos	Jeffry Rosa
R/R DoB: 2000-11-17	L/R DoB: 1999-12-05	R/R DoB: 2005-12-05	R/R DoB: 2005-07-13	L/R DoB: 1993-11-29	R/R DoB: 2006-10-04	R/R DoB: 1995-11-27	R/R DoB: 2007-07-31	R/R DoB: 36892	R/R DoB: 2004-09-11
Outfielders
Matt Rudick	AJ Salgado	Mike Tauchman
L/L DoB: 1998-07-02	L/R DoB: 2001-09-16	L/L DoB: 1990-12-03

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