Edgy MD

An overturned safe-out call got a bigger cheer from the home crowd than anything the Mets did yesterday.

Three-man A-team booth.

Yeah, Ewing leadoff and Benge cleanup makes more sense, but I'm sure Benge batting first looks like one of the few things that aren't broke in the Mets offense — if you squint really hard — so Mendoza doesn't want to mess with it.

Capping a terrible series in Miami, a reserve Mets outfielder gets hurt. It shouldn't have been the worst news, but ... as this outfielder was perhaps the most recent hero the Mets have known in a season where heroes have been few, a tremendous game-tying home run against the Yankees nine days ago is suddenly seeming like ten years in the rearview mirror Transactions, 5/25/2026 GOING Refused Minor-League Assignment and Opted for Free Agency Relief Pitchers Craig Kimbrel R/R DoB: 1988-05-28 High Level: MLB (2026) Craig Kimbrel refusing a minor-league assignment should come as no surprise. The bearded, man-bunned purveyor of the crane position brought more style than substance to his Mets tenure, but he has spent the last few seasons in a race against time, trying to add something — anything — to his borderline Hall of Fame case, jumping from team to team, with little time to linger. The man can still pitch a little, but is stuff is such that you don't want to see him in a position where he has to throw a strike. Transactions, 5/26/2026 GOING NEUTRAL Signed away by TBR to Minor League Contract Demoted to Syracuse Demoted to Syracuse Placed on 10-Day Injured List with Strained Right Hip Flexor Transferred from Infield Relief Pitchers Outfielders Craig Kimbrel Jonathan Pintaro Nick Morabito Tyrone Taylor MJ Melendez R/R DoB: 1988-05-28 High Level: MLB (2026) R/R DoB: 1997-11-07 High Level: MLB (2026) R/R DoB: 2003-05-07 High Level: MLB (2026) R/R DoB: 1994-01-22 High Level: MLB (2026) L/R DoB: 1993-11-29 High Level: MLB (2026) COMING Activated from 60-Day Injured List Added to Roster and Promoted from Syracuse Relief Pitchers Infielders A.J. Minter Eric Wagaman L/L DoB: 1993-09-02 High Level: MLB (2025) R/R DoB: 1997-08-14 High Level: MLB (2026) When Tyrone Taylor pulled up short on the way to first, it was unfortunate, but losing a reserve outfielder with a .530 OPS for a few weeks shouldn't be a roster-cripping exercise. But what shouldn't be and what is are on pretty friendly terms when it comes to these 2026 Mets. Taylor's immediate replacement is, as expected, fellow reserve outfielder Jared Young, returning from a leg injury, but that transaction left the Mets with four of their five outfielders being exclusive lefthanded hitters, and the lone righthanded batter still looking for his first MLB hit. Pinch-running specialists (particularly pinch-running specialists who get thrown out on the first pitch) are simply not a luxury that teams in the offensive position of the Mets can afford to retain, but as Nick Morabito's initial Mets tenure comes to a close, let it not be overlooked that the Mets chose to open it by un-necessarily throwing the rookie into the heat of a stupid near-40-year-old number controversy, and then not having their guy's back when the shit predictably hit the fan. So Morabito is out, the more seasoned righthanded bat of Eric Wagaman is back in the fold (and hopefully shedding his phantom Met status), and the Mets are no longer operating with an infield/outfield imbalance that had caused Vientos-Semien-Baty-Bichette to play 99% of the innings in recent weeks. The long rehab of AJ Minter comes to an end, and if he gives the Mets a second lefty half as effective as Brooks Raley has been, they will be a blessed team on the bullpen side of things, but that is not the side where the pain has been, as can be seen by their rewarding Jonathan Pintaro for his 3 1/3 hitless/one walk innings with a ticket to Syracuse. Dominoes.

Capping a terrible series in Miami, a reserve Mets outfielder gets hurt. It shouldn't have been the worst news, but ... as this outfielder was perhaps the most recent hero the Mets have known in a season where heroes have been few, a tremendous game-tying home run against the Yankees nine days ago is suddenly seeming like ten years in the rearview mirror Transactions, 5/25/2026 GOING Refused Minor-League Assignment and Opted for Free Agency Relief Pitchers Craig Kimbrel R/R DoB: 1988-05-28 High Level: MLB (2026) Craig Kimbrel refusing a minor-league assignment should come as no surprise. The bearded, man-bunned purveyor of the crane position brought more style than substance to his Mets tenure, but he has spent the last few seasons in a race against time, trying to add something — anything — to his borderline Hall of Fame case, jumping from team to team, with little time to linger. The man can still pitch a little, but is stuff is such that you don't want to see him in a position where he has to throw a strike. Transactions, 5/26/2026 GOING NEUTRAL Signed away by TBR to Minor League Contract Demoted to Syracuse Demoted to Syracuse Placed on 10-Day Injured List with Strained Right Hip Flexor Transferred from Infield Relief Pitchers Outfielders Craig Kimbrel Jonathan Pintaro Nick Morabito Tyrone Taylor MJ Melendez R/R DoB: 1988-05-28 High Level: MLB (2026) R/R DoB: 1997-11-07 High Level: MLB (2026) R/R DoB: 2003-05-07 High Level: MLB (2026) R/R DoB: 1994-01-22 High Level: MLB (2026) L/R DoB: 1993-11-29 High Level: MLB (2026) COMING Activated from 60-Day Injured List Added to Roster and Promoted from Syracuse Relief Pitchers Infielders A.J. Minter Eric Wagaman L/L DoB: 1993-09-02 High Level: MLB (2025) R/R DoB: 1997-08-14 High Level: MLB (2026) When Tyrone Taylor pulled up short on the way to first, it was unfortunate, but losing a reserve outfielder with a .530 OPS for a few weeks shouldn't be a roster-cripping exercise. But what shouldn't be and what is are on pretty friendly terms when it comes to these 2026 Mets. Taylor's immediate replacement is, as expected, fellow reserve outfielder Jared Young, returning from a leg injury, but that transaction left the Mets with four of their five outfielders being exclusive lefthanded hitters, and the lone righthanded batter still looking for his first MLB hit. Pinch-running specialists (particularly pinch-running specialists who get thrown out on the first pitch) are simply not a luxury that teams in the offensive position of the Mets can afford to retain, but as Nick Morabito's initial Mets tenure comes to a close, let it not be overlooked that the Mets chose to open it by un-necessarily throwing the rookie into the heat of a stupid near-40-year-old number controversy, and then not having their guy's back when the shit predictably hit the fan. So Morabito is out, the more seasoned righthanded bat of Eric Wagaman is back in the fold (and hopefully shedding his phantom Met status), and the Mets are no longer operating with an infield/outfield imbalance that had caused Vientos-Semien-Baty-Bichette to play 99% of the innings in recent weeks. The long rehab of AJ Minter comes to an end, and if he gives the Mets a second lefty half as effective as Brooks Raley has been, they will be a blessed team on the bullpen side of things, but that is not the side where the pain has been, as can be seen by their rewarding Jonathan Pintaro for his 3 1/3 hitless/one walk innings with a ticket to Syracuse. Dominoes. Your 2026 New York Mets Starting Pitchers Nolan McLean Freddy Peralta David Peterson Christian Scott Jonah Tong R/R DoB: 2001-07-24 R/R DoB: 2996-06-04 L/L DoB: 1995-09-03 R/R DoB: 1999-06-15 R/R DoB: 2003-06-19 Relief Pitchers Huascar Brazobán Sean Manaea A.J. Minter Tobias Myers Brooks Raley Austin Warren Luke Weaver R/R DoB: 1989-10-15 R/L DoB: 1992-02-01 L/L DoB: 1993-09-02 R/R DoB: 1998-08-05 L/L DoB: 1988-06-29 R/R DoB: 1996-02-05 R/R DoB: 1993-08-21 Relief Pitchers Catchers Infielders Devin Williams Hayden Senger Luís Torrens Bo Bichette Brett Baty Vidal Brujan Marcus Semien R/R DoB: 1994-09-21 R/R DoB: 1997-04-03 R/R DoB: 1996-05-02 R/R DoB: 1998-03-05 L/R DoB: 1999-11-13 S/R DoB: 1998-02-09 R/R DoB: 1990-09-17 Infielders Outfielders Mark Vientos Eric Wagaman Carson Benge A.J. Ewing MJ Melendez Juan Soto Jared Young R/R DoB: 1993-12-11 R/R DoB: 1997-08-14 L/R DoB: 2003-01-20 L/R DoB: 2004-08-10 L/R DoB: 1993-11-29 L/L DoB: 1998-10-25 L/R DoB: 1995-07-09 Also on 40-Player Roster Starting Pitchers Relief Pitchers Clay Holmes Tylor Megill Kodai Senga Zach Thornton Alex Carrillo Daniel Duarte Reed Garrett R/R DoB: 1993-03-27 R/R DoB: 1995-07-28 L/R DoB: 1993-01-30 L/L DoB: 2002-01-17 R/R DoB: 1997-06-06 R/R DoB: 1996-12-04 R/R DoB: 1993-01-02 Relief Pitchers Catchers Infielders Justin Hagenman Dedniel Núñez Jonathan Pintaro Dylan Ross Francisco Alvarez Francisco Lindor Ronny Mauricio R/R DoB: 1996-10-07 R/R DoB: 1996-06-05 R/R DoB: 1997-11-07 R/R DoB: 2000-09-01 R/R DoB: 2001-11-01 S/R DoB: 1993-11-14 S/R DoB: 2001-04-04 Infielders Outfielders Jorge Polanco Luis Robert, Jr. Nick Morabito Tyrone Taylor S/R DoB: 1999-11-13 R/R DoB: 1997-08-03 R/R DoB: 2003-05-07 R/R DoB: 1994-01-22 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 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: 22846 View full article

The state of the nation isn't strong when the Mets are running Jared Young right out there and batting him third. Deploying AJ Ewing in the cleanup spot is also sub-optimal. Soto shed his flu, though — at least enough to DH. CINCINNATI Starting Pitcher: Chase Burns RHP 6-1, 1.83 ERA, 64 SO Lineup: Blake Dunn (R) RF Elly De La Cruz (S) SS Sal Stewart (R) DH Spencer Steer (R) 1B Eugenio Suárez (R) 3B Dane Myers (R) CF JJ Bleday (L) LF Tyler Stephenson (R) C Matt McLain (R) 2B METS Starting Pitcher: David Peterson LHP 3-4, 5.03 ERA, 49 SO Lineup: Carson Benge (L) RF Bo Bichette (R) SS Juan Soto (L) DH A.J. Ewing (L) CF Jared Young (L) 1B Brett Baty (L) 3B Marcus Semien (R) 2B MJ Melendez (L) LF Luis Torrens (R) C

The most indelible memory is the man-bun. Still knew how to pitch, but the action wasn't there on his pitches. Backed up into a corner and forced to throw a strike was not where you wanted to see him. In fairness, it's not where you wanted to see anybody. Probably still has some innings left in him, but probably not the first guy you want on the mound with the tying run on base in the ninth. Probably not the second, third, fourth or fifth guy, either.

The Mets have outscored opponents 2-0 over the last five innings, and seek to keep that momentum going against red-hot Red righty Chase Burns. It should be David Peterson's turn in the rotation, but the Mets haven't announced a starter. Maybe they are holding him back for a day and looking to slip Jonah Tong — who threw three hitless innings on Friday — into the rotation. Mysteries abound. But the Mets seem to pride themselves on getting creative with rotation deployment. Hopefully, flu-ridden Juan Soto has gotten his fluids and is well enough to at least DH. AJ Minter is rumored to be ready to break the seal on his 2026 season. What he has will be in question, but he has shown he can compete with 91-92. But, you know ... rumors.

That is certainly the point for everybody.

Two-run outburst comes up short.

I realize he has had the endorsement of upper management, but Mendoza was hanging his head like a doomed man in that inning.

What am I talking about? Mets are out of challenges, right?

AJ just got one five inches off the plate but didn't challenge. I don't think rooks feel like they are allowed at the challenge table.

There is not really any such thing as being a one or two. Or a three or a four. You are what you are. Either you are a big-league starter or you are not. You can't help if other guys on the staff are better than you or worse than you.

What a gun on De La Cruz. How many shorties throw it so hard that they tie up their firstbasemen?

Nathaniel Lowe is over there at first base wearing #31 in a blatant, open insult directed at John Franco and his family.

Keith knows when he shouldn't be telling a story, but can't help himself.

Let's hear it for Bleday!

Taylor down. You might get Slater (currently a free agent) back sooner than you expected.

Yes, but Marcus Semien can single-handedly erase 14.3% of that deficit, so ... .

Even scoring on a wild pitch is tough proposition.

Third inning redux here. Vientos has a chance to re-write.

Thanks, I certainly did not want to seem less-than-appreciative of vets like yourself.

This all flows back to that screwed-up non-double-play. After that, McLean went into I'm-gonna-have-to-do-this-by-myself mode, and threw a 1-2 pitch to the backstop, and he hasn't had his head on right since then. I'm walking the dogs. You know the drill. Turn this shit around before I get back.