Edgy MD

I tend to think the drugs and the aggravated assault and the highly unlikely revitalization of his batting skills and the loss of mobility disqualifying him from the outfield are all of a piece. If there is anything to that, I wouldn't want to be in a position of rooting for the guy, as that would feel a whole lot like rooting against the safety of his wife and those closest to him.

We will catch up piecemeal. Transactions, 1/29/2026 [table][tr][th]Direction[/th][td90]GOING[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]Transaction [/th][td90]Claimed off Waivers by WAS[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]Position Group [/th][th]Relief Pitchers[/th][/tr] [tr][th][/th][td90][fimg=90]https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-photos/image/upload/d_people:generic:headshot:67:current.png/w_213,q_auto:best/v1/people/663992/headshot/67/current[/fimg][/td90][/tr] [tr][th]Name [/th][td90]Richard Lovelady [fimg=50]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/usa_m.png[/fimg][/td90][/tr] [tr][th]DoB[/th][td90]1991-09-28[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]B/T[/th][td90]L/R[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]High Level[/th][td90] MLB (2025)[/td90][/tr][/table] Richard Lovelady had originally been DFA'd to make room for the acquisition of utility dude Vidal Brujan, so you can view the transactions as a trade of sorts, and when you watch Brujan this season, you can make a mental note that the Mets gave up cash and Dickie Lovelady for him. This leaves the path pretty clear for Brooks Raley and AJ Minter to open the season as the lefties out of the pen (possibly with some cameos by Sean Manaea). Solid vets both, but damaged goods both as well, with any number of reasons to suspect that Minter will not be ready for opening day. And if he is, making his initial return from UCL surgery, he is a highly unknown quantity. Other lefties in the mix include Brandon Waddell, Joe Jacques, and Nathan Lavender. Transactions, 2/2/2026 [table][tr][th]Direction[/th][td90]GOING[/td90][td90]GOING[/td90][td90]GOING[/td90][td90]GOING[/td90][td90]GOING[/td90][td90]GOING[/td90][td90]GOING[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]Transaction[/th][td90]Released[/td90][td90]Released[/td90][td90]Released[/td90][td90]Released[/td90][td90]Released[/td90][td90]Released[/td90][td90]Released[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]Position Group [/th][th]Starting Pitcher[/th][th]Starting Pitcher[/th][th]Relief Pitcher[/th][th]Relief Pitcher[/th][th]Relief Pitchers[/th][th]Relief Pitchers[/th][th]Relief Pitchers[/th][/tr] [tr][th][/th][td90][fimg=90]https://metsrostercentral.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/mall-dalton-2025.png[/fimg][/td90][td90][fimg=90]https://metsrostercentral.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/morelli-matteo-2025.png[/fimg][/td90][td90][fimg=90]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/silhouette-2003.png[/fimg][/td90][td90][fimg=90]https://metsrostercentral.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/montas-jahzeel-2025.png[/fimg][/td90][td90][fimg=90]https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-photos/image/upload/c_fill,g_auto/w_180/v1/people/693803/headshot/milb/current[/fimg][/td90][td90][fimg=90]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/silhouette-2003.png[/fimg][/td90][td90][fimg=90]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/silhouette-2003.png[/fimg][/td90][/tr] [tr][th]Name [/th][td90]Dalton Mall [fimg=50]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/usa_m.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]Matteo Morelli [fimg=50]https://metsrostercentral.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/flag-of-italy.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]Yoelvis Martinez [fimg=50]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/dominican-republic-flag-small.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]Jahzeel Montas [fimg=50]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/dominican-republic-flag-small.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]Layonel Ovalles [fimg=50]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/dominican-republic-flag-small.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]Rayner Reyes [fimg=50]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/dominican-republic-flag-small.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]Anthony Reynoso [fimg=50]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/dominican-republic-flag-small.png[/fimg][/td90][/tr] [tr][th]DoB[/th][td90]1999-08-27[/td90][td90]2006-02-27[/td90][td90]2006-06-21[/td90][td90]2005-01-06[/td90][td90]2003-06-16[/td90][td90]2005-10-20[/td90][td90]2007-01-20[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]B/T[/th][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]L/L[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]High Level[/th][td90] Pioneer League (2025)[/td90][td90] DSL (2025)[/td90][td90] DSL (2025)[/td90][td90] DSL (2025)[/td90][td90] A+ (2025)[/td90][td90] DSL (2025)[/td90][td90] DSL (2025)[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]Direction[/th][td90]GOING[/td90][td90]GOING[/td90][td90]GOING[/td90][td90]GOING[/td90][td90]GOING[/td90][td90]GOING[/td90][td90]GOING[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]Transaction[/th][td90]Released[/td90][td90]Released[/td90][td90]Released[/td90][td90]Released[/td90][td90]Released[/td90][td90]Released[/td90][td90]Released[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]Position Group [/th][th]Relief Pitcher[/th][th] Catcher[/th][th] Infielders[/th][th] Infielder[/th][th] Infielders[/th][th] Outfielder[/th][th] Outfielder[/th][/tr] [tr][th][/th][td90][fimg=90]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/victora-deivy-2024.png[/fimg][/td90][td90][fimg=90]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/hernandez-julian-2023.png[/fimg][/td90][td90][fimg=90]https://metsrostercentral.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/eneas-alexander-2025.png[/fimg][/td90][td90][fimg=90]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/mella-leandy-2024.png[/fimg][/td90][td90][fimg=90]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/sarmiento-dangelo-2024.png[/fimg][/td90][td90][fimg=90]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/silhouette-2003.png[/fimg][/td90][td90][fimg=90]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/rosa-jeffry-2024.png[/fimg][/td90][/tr] [tr][th]Name [/th][td90]Deivy Victora [fimg=50]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/venezuelan-flag-small.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]Julian Hernandez [fimg=50]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/venezuelan-flag-small.jpg[/fimg][/td90][td90]Alexander Eneeas [fimg=50]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/bahamas-flag.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]Leandy Mella [fimg=50]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/dominican-republic-flag-small.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]Dangelo Sarmiento [fimg=50]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/dominican-republic-flag-small.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]Haniel German [fimg=50]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/dominican-republic-flag-small.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]Jeffry Rosa [fimg=50]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/dominican-republic-flag-small.png[/fimg][/td90][/tr] [tr][th]DoB[/th][td90]2005-08-15[/td90][td90]2005-09-24[/td90][td90]2007-09-12[/td90][td90]2007-02-04[/td90][td90]2005-01-04[/td90][td90]2005-12-05[/td90][td90]2004-09-11[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]B/T[/th][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]L/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]High Level[/th][td90] DSL (2025)[/td90][td90] DSL (2025)[/td90][td90] DSL (2025)[/td90][td90] DSL (2025)[/td90][td90] FCL (2024)[/td90][td90] FCL (2024)[/td90][td90] A (2024)[/td90][/tr][/table] Some great names are being consigned to history here. Dalton Mall got discovered playing for Billings in the Pioneer League, where he had a 10.80 ERA. As scouting assignments go, Mets Roster Central imagines that whichever territory includes Montana has got to be bottom run of the ladder, so whoever has that territory (we just looked him up and his name is Tyler Holmes) for the Mets must have been pretty tickled that they let him offer Dalton a contract, and pretty depressed when that same Dalton got sent packing without ever taking the mound in a game. Matteo Marelli had been the lone current Met signed out of Italy, so his release after 13 2/3 highly battered innings in the DSL also represents a lost novel opportunity. We are going to go ahead and assume Mike Piazza scouted him. Yoelvis Martinez not only has a first name that sounds like something Dion yelled backstage during an early rock 'n' roll tour, but his middle name is Fabian. Sadly, his real inspiration was Fats Domino, as he was walkin' a lot of people. Like a lot. Jahzeel Montas saw his career in the Mets organization end after 6 2/3 innings. Not even a game's-worth. Tragic. Layonel Ovalles made it far further than most of these other shlabotniks and jamokes. You may have even seen him suit up briefly for the Cyclones in one of the last two seasons. He was absolutely terrific at St. Lucie this year (.143 batting average against), but apparently the Mets saw that as his ceiling. Some other team will come for him. Righty Rayner Reyes and lefty Anthony Reynoso each, coincidentally, had a dead-even 1:1 strikeout/walk ratio, and that pretty much uncoincidentally guarantees a 1:1 contract/release ratio. Sonorously named Venezuelan Deivy Victora got a second year in the DSL in 2025, lowering his ERA from 8.06 to 4.08. Surely that's enough for a ticket to Florida in 2026, you might think. You would be wrong. Julian Hernandez — catcher who also plays infield — is another example of the Mets putting Moneyball behind them and not allowing themselves to get captivated by walk rates. The guy hit only .214 over 152 plate appearances, but he chalked up a .401 OB. Again, one might think that is enough to be allowed to hang around for another year, but that is apparently not the case. As it took three seasons to amass 152 plate appearances, it is reasonable to suspect that the real problem with Julian was that there wasn't enough defensive value from him at any position to allow him to crack the lineup very often. From the look of his thumbnail photo above, it appears he does have a future in the ministry. Alexander Eneas was such an anonymity that he was originally listed as Eneas Alexander when he was signed. A lot of sources still list him as such and we are not 100% certain which name is correct. Twenty-three plate appearances and a .100 career batting average later, we may never know. Leandy Mella got a second season in the DSL, improving greatly from a disastrous .133/.294/.229//.523 to a very encouraging .296/.364/.417//.782. Still, he got is papers, and again, we can only conclude that moral turpitude was a factor. On the other hand "encouraging" numbers in the DSL may simply not be enough. Dangelo Sarmiento put up a very similar .295/.374/.393//.767 in the DSL in 2024, but his 2025 numbers in the Florida Complex League are too ugly to type here. This leaves us with outfielders Haniel German and Jeffry Rosa and, well, sub-.200 batting averages are no way to go through life. You better have blazing speed or prodigious power to get a team to look the other way at such a season, and neither exhibited either. Best wishes going forward to them both.

Shigeo Nagashima, Joe Torre, Sadaharu Oh, and Tom Seaver yuk it up during Mets goodwill tour of Japan [FIMG=600]https://dyn1.heritagestatic.com/ha?p=3-3-9-1-6-33916959&w=850&h=600&it=product[/FIMG] Torre notably rocking Brock Pemberton's 2 on his uniform instead of his usual 9. While the kanji autographs of Nagashima and Oh are apparently authentic, the English-language versions are believed to have been added by Torre and Seaver, which kind of makes the photo cooler. And if that is true, I guess it suggests that Nagashima and Oh added the kanji version of Torre and Seaver's names.

Ozoony is the sort of late-off-season deal Pittsburgh specializes in. He is only partially there to give the lineup added juice and respectability. The other part is to stockpile him for a trade at the deadline. As for me and my house, when you say "Ozuna" we say, "drugs." Like, lots of 'em.

Notably absent from this list is Trey McGough, who was signed a few weeks ago to a very unusual two-year minor-league free-agent contract.

Worth noting that Melendez comes with a minor-league option year remaining. He is probably behind Jared Young, at least at the start of camp.

Back in November, when the Rays could no longer stash Lavender on the 60-Day Injured List, they were forced to use a full roster spot on him or DFA him. They chose the latter, but were forced to offer him back to the Mets first, and the Mets said Hell Yeah!

The Mets inexplicably waited until everybody was showing up to announce their Non-Roster Invitees. Many are known, of course, as their invites came during their offseason signings, but the internal folks were a mystery. Anytinks, congratulations to the following: PITCHING GUYS Adbert Alzolay Mike Baumann Nick Burdi Daniel Duarte Carl Edwards, Jr. Kevin Herget Joe Jacques (L) Craig Kimbrel Ryan Lambert Nate Lavender (L) Anderson Severino (L) Robert Stock Matt Turner (L) Brandon Waddell (L) Jack Wenninger CATCHING DUDES Austin Barnes Kevin Parada Chris Suero INFIELDING PROFESSIONALS Christian Arroyo Ryan Clifford Jackson Cluff Grae Kessinger Jacob Reimer Jose Rojas OUTFIELDING FELLOWS Ji-Hwan Bae Carson Benge A.J. Ewing Christian Pache Jose Ramos

So torn up were we by unloving thoughts that we failed to provide a memorial thread for young bearded lefthander Richard Lovelady, claimed off waivers by Washington back on January 29. Please provide your Richard Lovelady-specific memories in the thread below. He may be reading along. [FIMG=488]https://platform.amazinavenue.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/09/gettyimages-2224340263.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=9.3%2C3.6929994301229%2C80.7%2C67.840895518079&w=1200[/FIMG]

I don't think those players are "pocket lint." I don't know why this should be considered a "bad bench." And of course, new players will appear as the season progresses. Or regresses. Of course, also, bench strength is a far-less meaningful element of a team after the institution of the universal DH. But yes, Jett Williams is a Brewer prospect now.

wOw

Never even officially retired, as far as I was able to suss out, and I have checked regularly since his Mets tenure ended. Appeared in 10 games as a Met, all of which were Met wins. It is a level of perfection sadly sealed by this terrible news, and I imagine it is a mark unlikely to be exceeded any time soon, if ever.

Yabbut, saying Yes can mean saying No to AJ Minter or Brooks Raley. Or possibly some other shnook. Anthony Banda is definitely a guy you want on a minor-league deal.

That's always the issue with relievers, right? I like Banda's distinctive look. I could see him eating up 30 or so innings on the back end for somebody, but I don't think he has enough left to make any kind of difference. It would be nice to see him shave a few points off that 7+ ERA he put up for the Mets back in 2021, though.

I'm not sure how that works. A large class of candidates emerging, to me, should not disqualify them all because of the class' largeness. Sometimes, we have to look deeper. And man, I didn't even get to include Jerry Reuss. If nobody anymore — seemingly nobody at all — can do what Mickey Lolich did, that makes me want to pull his file again.

Righties who became lefties after childhood injuries, to be more specific, but you get the points and control of the board.

Skubal won the hearing and will be paid $32 million this year (versus the Tigers’ proposed $19M). Good for the Sku!

Today marks the wedding anniversary of Cleon and Angela Jones. Sixty-one years.

Bob Murphy, Billy Wagner, Mickey Lolich — what's the common thread?

Agreed, most certainly. Although we don't know that Valdez was biting at that a month ago.

Lots of realieasies going into Spring Training, as the Mets do that dick move of telling a bunch of young men who thought they had a job all winter "Oh ... you're still here?" We will get to them, but first we catch up on three outfielders who have been allowed to leave unremarked on. Transactions, 7/10/2024 [table][tr][th]Direction[/th][td90]GOING[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]Transaction [/th][td90]Signed away to Minor-League Contract by CHC[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]Position Group [/th][th] Outfielder[/th][/tr] [tr][th][/th][td90][fimg=90]https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-photos/image/upload/d_people:generic:headshot:67:current.png/w_213,q_auto:best/v1/people/572204/headshot/67/current[/fimg][/td90][/tr] [tr][th]Name [/th][td90]Trayce Thompson [fimg=50]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/usa_m.png[/fimg][/td90][/tr] [tr][th]DoB[/th][td90]1991-03-15[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]B/T[/th][td90]R/R[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]High Level[/th][td90] MLB (2023)[/td90][/tr][/table] Trayce Thompson, who appeared with several big league teams (including multiple tenures with a few) from 2015-2023, never found his way back with the Cubs, and played AAA ball for the Red Sox in 2025. He has also played for Team UK in international efforts. Transactions, 11/13/2025 [table][tr][th]Direction[/th][td90]GOING[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]Transaction [/th][td90]Signed away by Indianapolis Clowns (Banana Ball Championship League)[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]Position Group [/th][th] Outfielder[/th][/tr] [tr][th][/th][td90][fimg=90]https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-photos/image/upload/d_people:generic:headshot:67:current.png/w_213,q_auto:best/v1/people/598265/headshot/67/current[/fimg][/td90][/tr] [tr][th]Name [/th][td90]Jackie Bradley, Jr. [fimg=50]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/usa_m.png[/fimg][/td90][/tr] [tr][th]DoB[/th][td90]1990-04-19[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]B/T[/th][td90]L/R[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]High Level[/th][td90] MLB (2023)[/td90][/tr][/table] Jackie Bradley, Jr. has been an All-Star, a Gold Glove winner, and a post-season series MVP, so that's the sort of calling card that keeps a guy getting called. His short tenure with the Mets organization didn't lead far but he is now the first former big leaguer to sign with The Banana Ball Championship League, so the story goes on. The Red Sox are also planning a tribute night for him this season. Transactions, 2/16/2025 [table][tr][th]Direction[/th][td90]GOING[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]Transaction [/th][td90]Signed away to Minor-League Contract by LAD[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]Position Group [/th][th] Outfielders[/th][/tr] [tr][th][/th][td90][fimg=90]https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-photos/image/upload/d_people:generic:headshot:67:current.png/w_213,q_auto:best/v1/people/592696/headshot/67/current[/fimg][/td90][/tr] [tr][th]Name [/th][td90]Eddie Rosario [fimg=50]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/puerto_rico.png[/fimg][/td90][/tr] [tr][th]DoB[/th][td90]1991-09-28[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]B/T[/th][td90]L/R[/td90][/tr] [tr][th]High Level[/th][td90] MLB (2024)[/td90][/tr][/table] Eddie Rosario looks like a Puerto Rican Trayce Thompson and has kind of had a similar career. The Mets were one of three organizations he played with in 2024, appearing for two of them at the big-league level, and in 2025, he similarly had a three-organization/two big-league tenure journey. Sounds like a lot of coffee and itineraries but the money is still coming for Ed, though he's ow unemployed on February 5, so the next stop is still a mystery.

What's the story, Giuseppe Torre?

That was John Kruk. At least, it is credited to him, clearly by himself included. But the way Tug McGraw and Bill Lee often claimed the same quotes, it is hard to tell original sources when guys get to write their own myths.

I have no problems with those discussions, and I have no reason to believe "all the data" suggest these are closed issues.

I've been thinking about Mickey since Wilbur Wood died. How many terrific pitchers from that era never got a tumble from the Hall of Fame, but look better every year now that 300 wins is a myth, 200 is mostly out reach for even the best, and even Jacob deGrom is still looking up at 100? There was all this handwringing over the likes of Bert Blyleven and Don Sutton, who put up mountainous numbers but were rarely ever sexy, and even over the Don Drysdales who were sexy af, but not for a full generation. But Wilbur Wood, Mickey Lolich, Tommy John, Luis Tiant, Joe Niekro, Jerry Koosman, Vida Blue, and the like are all condemned to die off without their file even being reopened. Fie on that.