Edgy MD

It's not clear how possible this is, but maybe the Mets hope to put off medical clearance on Diekman and Fujinami for another eight days. On February 14, players can again be placed on the 60-Day Injured List, and the team can store David Peterson and Ronny Mauricio there, allowing them to add the two new relievers without being forced to lose anybody. This notion was originally suggested by Guy-on-Twitter Benny Greenberg.

Edgy MD wrote: Diego Castillo, DFA'd and waived this offseason by the Diamondbacks and claimed by the Mets, only to be DFA'd and waived by the Mets and claimed by the Yankees … has now been DFA'd by the Yankees. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Diego's offseason tour moves on to Philadphia as he gets claimed by the Phillies.

Another one-year deal for the guy. Third year in a row he became a free agent. Third year in a row he returned to the Dodgers for a single season. A strange ongoing relationship that's somehow working for both parties.

While we are left to wait and wait and wait for official completion of the Diekman and Fujinami signings (and the likely pair of DFAs that will accompany them), we have a tudbit of catching up to do. Transactions, 1/31/2024 [th]Direction[/th][td90]GOING[/td90][td90]GOING[/td90][td90]GOING[/td90][th]Transaction[/th][td90]Released[/td90][td90]Released[/td90][td90]Released[/td90][th]Position Group [/th][th]=#BF80FF] Infielder[/th][th]=#BF80FF] Infielder[/th][th]=#FFC2C2] Outfielder[/th][th][/th][td90][fimg=90]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/cumare-wuilder-2023.png[/fimg][/td90][td90][fimg=90]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/vargas-jeisel-2024.png[/fimg][/td90][td90][fimg=90]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/campusano-michael-2024.png[/fimg][/td90][th]Name [/th][td90]Wuilder Cumare [fimg=50]https://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/venezuelan-flag-small.jpg[/fimg][/td90][td90]Jeisel Vargas [fimg=50]https://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Dominican_Republic.jpg[/fimg][/td90][td90]Michael Campusano [fimg=50]https://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Dominican_Republic.jpg[/fimg][/td90][th]DoB[/th][td90]2006-07-07[/td90][td90]2004-12-02[/td90][td90]2004-09-10[/td90][th]B/T[/th][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]L/R[/td90][th]High Level[/th][td90]DSL (2023)[/td90][td90]DSL (2023)[/td90][td90]Academy (2023)[/td90] As you can tell by the youthful photos, these are three careers threatened to end before they seemingly have even begun. Campusano's story is particularly rough, as he is released having never recorded an official professional appearance on his ledger. Jeisel Vargas had a bout as rough a debut as you can in imagine in 2022, recording but a lone single and no walks in 19 trips to the plate in the DSL, but he bounced back significantly in 2023, posting an .830 OPS in 36 plate appearances, but we have to guess there was a reason he was only given 36 plate appearances. Transactions, 2/1/2024 [th]Direction[/th][td90]=#008410]COMING[/td90][td90]=#008410]COMING[/td90][td90]=#008410]COMING[/td90][td90]=#008410]COMING[/td90][td90]=#008410]COMING[/td90][td90]=#008410]COMING[/td90][td90]=#008410]COMING[/td90][th]Transaction [/th][td90]Invited to Major League Spring Training Camp[/td90][td90]Invited to Major League Spring Training Camp[/td90][td90]Invited to Major League Spring Training Camp[/td90][td90]Invited to Major League Spring Training Camp[/td90][td90]Invited to Major League Spring Training Camp[/td90][td90]Invited to Major League Spring Training Camp[/td90][td90]Invited to Major League Spring Training Camp[/td90][th]Position Group [/th][th]Starting Pitcher[/th][th]Starting Pitcher[/th][th]Starting Pitcher[/th][th]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/th][th]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/th][th]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/th][th]=#00BF00] Catcher[/th][th][/th][td90][fimg=90]https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-photos/image/upload/c_fill,g_auto/w_180/v1/people/687589/headshot/milb/current[/fimg][/td90][td90][fimg=90]https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-photos/image/upload/c_fill,g_auto/w_180/v1/people/681035/headshot/milb/current[/fimg][/td90][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/660593/headshot/67/current[/fimg][/td90][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/605195/headshot/67/current[/fimg][/td90][td90][fimg=90]https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-photos/image/upload/c_fill,g_auto/w_180/v1/people/681320/headshot/milb/current[/fimg][/td90][td90][fimg=90]https://unoprivateers.com/images/2020/5/18/37_Eric_Orze_Fixed.png?width=300[/fimg][/td90][td90][fimg=90]https://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Nido-Tomas-2019.jpg[/fimg][/td90][th]Name [/th][td90]Dominic Hamel [fimg=50]https://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]Christian Scott [fimg=50]https://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]Mike Vasil [fimg=50]https://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]Kyle Crick [fimg=50]https://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]Nathan Lavender [fimg=50]https://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]Eric Orze [fimg=50]https://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]Tomás Nido [fimg=50]https://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Puerto_Rico.png[/fimg][/td90][th]DoB[/th][td90]1999-03-02[/td90][td90]1999-06-15[/td90][td90]2000-03-19[/td90][td90]1992-11-30[/td90][td90]2000-01-20[/td90][td90]1997-08-21[/td90][td90]1994-04-12[/td90][th]B/T[/th][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]L/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]L/L[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][th]High Level[/th][td90]AA (2023)[/td90][td90]AA (2023)[/td90][td90]AAA (2023)[/td90][td90]DSL (2023)[/td90][td90]AAA (2023)[/td90][td90]AAA (2023)[/td90][td90]MLB (2023)[/td90][th]Direction[/th][td90]=#008410]COMING[/td90][td90]=#008410]COMING[/td90][td90]=#008410]COMING[/td90][td90]=#008410]COMING[/td90][th]Transaction [/th][td90]Invited to Major League Spring Training Camp[/td90][td90]Invited to Major League Spring Training Camp[/td90][td90]Invited to Major League Spring Training Camp[/td90][td90]Invited to Major League Spring Training Camp[/td90][th]Position Group [/th][th]=#00BF00] Catcher[/th][th]=#00BF00] Catcher[/th][th]=#BF80FF] Infielder[/th][th]=#FFC2C2] Outfielder[/th][th][/th][td90][fimg=90]https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-photos/image/upload/c_fill,g_auto/w_180/v1/people/691006/headshot/milb/current[/fimg][/td90][td90][fimg=90]https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-photos/image/upload/c_fill,g_auto/w_180/v1/people/663584/headshot/milb/current[/fimg][/td90][td90][fimg=90]https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-photos/image/upload/c_fill,g_auto/w_180/v1/people/702518/headshot/milb/current[/fimg][/td90][td90][fimg=90]https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-photos/image/upload/c_fill,g_auto/w_180/v1/people/687551/headshot/milb/current[/fimg][/td90][th]Name [/th][td90]Kevin Parada [fimg=50]https://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]Hayden Senger [fimg=50]https://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]Jett Williams [fimg=50]https://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]Drew Gilbert [fimg=50]https://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/td90][th]DoB[/th][td90]2001-08-03[/td90][td90]1997-04-03[/td90][td90]2003-11-03[/td90][td90]2000-09-27[/td90][th]B/T[/th][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]L/L[/td90][th]High Level[/th][td90]AA (2023)[/td90][td90]AAA (2023)[/td90][td90]AA (2023)[/td90][td90]AA (2023)[/td90] The complete camp roster as it currently stands can be found in the https://phpbb3.leaptoad.com/mets/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=33067&p=146361#p146361NonRosterinos thread. You can be assured that all Peyton Battenfield supporters are pissed and plan to mobilize on the Mets camp in Port St. Lucie and disrupt proceedings with targeted chaos. Transactions, 2/2/2024 [th]Direction[/th][td90]GOING[/td90][th]Transaction [/th][td90]Traded to BOS for Cash Considerations[/td90][th]Position Group [/th][th]=#00BF00] Catcher[/th][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/623168/headshot/67/current[/fimg][/td90][th]Name [/th][td90]Tyler Heineman [fimg=50]https://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/td90][th]DoB[/th][td90]1991-06-19[/td90][th]B/T[/th][td90]S/R[/td90][th]High Level[/th][td90]MLB (2023)[/td90] Tyler was an experienced big league vet looking down the barrel of a AA assignment, despite locking up a place on the big league roster, so it wasn't surprising to see him DFA'd when the Mets needed a roster spot; nor was it unexpected when the Mets were able to swing a deal for him. If you're looking to glean more meaning from the cards, you might guess that this deal says good things for the persistence of Tomás Nido in the Mets organization beyond April 1, it having been his home since 2012

I don't think those are chicken droppings.

Netflix documentary covering the 1985 recording of the single "We Are the World" by an assemblage of stars from across the pop music spectrum pulling an all-nighter. [fimg=450]https://cdn-p.smehost.net/sites/4788b7ad6b5448c1b90d9322361f98f3/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/240129-billyjoel-wearetheworld.jpg[/fimg]

A lot of similarities between the two. The main differences are day-time-vs.-night-time and side-bleed-vs.-almost-full-bleed.

Amazingly, after years of outright gas from deGrom and Diaz and Syndergaard et al., the Mets were one of just three teams last season not to throw a single fastball in the triple digits. If the idea is to get bullpen with a lot of different and distinct looks, Fujinami has a look they've been lacking. He also has options, which is another asset the bullpen can certainly use

Thanks for documenting the releaserinos.

Rondon is well noted above. Diekman and Fujinami are waiting on physicals and official finalization.

Indeed, but I'm advocating for otherwise.

Here's what the current camp roster looks like. Players in red are expected to open the season on the 60-Day Injured List. Players in =#00BF40]green are not yet officially signed, meaning that if and when they do, two players will likely fall off the back end of the roster. Shintaro Fujinami, if and when his signing becomes official, actually profiles jut behind Michael Tonkin, but sits out of the money below right now because he has options. The most notable missing figure here appears to be infielder José Rondón. Starting pitcher Peyton Battenfield and reliever Victor Castaneda are also asking themselves WtF? All will likely get floated up to big league camp to fill out the roster for bus trips to away games, so they should quit griping. Two players — and I'm not saying they will be Max Cranick and/or Chad Smith — will have to be removed from the roster if and when the Fuinami and Jake Diekman signings become official. Other notes below. [TABLE][TR][TH][/TH][TH]Starting Pitchers[/TH][TH]Relief Pitchers[/TH][TH]Catchers[/TH][TH]Infielders[/TH][TH]Outfielders[/TH][/TR] [TR][TH]Projected Opening-Day Big-Leaguers [/TH][TD]Kodai Senga José Quintana* Sean Manaea* Adrian Houser David Peterson* Luis Severino[/TD][TD]Edwin Diaz Adam Ottavino Brooks Raley* =#00BF40]Jake Diekman* Jorge López Michael Tonkin Yohan Ramirez Drew Smith[/TD][TD]Francisco Álvarez Omar Narváez*[/TD][TD]Pete Alonso Francisco Lindor# Jeff McNeil* Ronny Mauricio# Mark Vientos Joey Wendle* Zack Short[/TD][TD]Brandon Nimmo* Starling Marte Tyrone Taylor Harrison Bader DJ Stewart*[/TD][/TR][TR][TH]Others on 40-Player Roster [/TH][TD]Joey Lucchesi* |1| Tylor Megill |1| José Butto |1| Max Kranick |3|[/TD][TD]=#00BF40]Shintaro Fujinami Reed Garrett |1| Phil Bickford |😮, 1| Austin Adams |😮, 1| Sean Reid-Foley |😮, 1| Grant Hartwig |2| Josh Walker* |2|[/TD][TD][/TD][TD]Brett Baty* |1| Luisangel Acuña |2|[/TD][TD]Alex Ramirez |2|[/TD][/TR] [TR][TH]Non-Roster Players [/TH][TD]Dominic Hamel |1| Christian Scott |2| Mike Vasil* |2|[/TD][TD]Kyle Crick |1| Nathan Lavender* |2| Eric Orze |3| Yacksel Rios |1| Cam Robinson |3| Andre Scrubb |1| Chad Smith |3| Cole Sulser |1| Danny Young* |2|[/TD][TD]Austin Allen* |1| Tomás Nido |1| Kevin Parada |2| Hayden Senger |2|[/TD][TD] Rylan Bannon |1| José Iglesias |1| Yolmer Sánchez |1| Jett Williams |3|[/TD][TD]Drew Gilbert* |2| Taylor Kohlwey* |1| Trayce Thompson |1|[/TD][/TR][/TABLE] 😮 — Player is on the wrong side of the bubble despite being out of options. 1 — Player is projected for Syracuse. 2 — Player is projected for Binghamton. 3 — Player is projected for Brooklyn. (Projections should not be understood as guarantees, or even necessarily likelihoods. These assume no injuries from this point forward, which never happens. A reliever could be "projected" for Brooklyn, but an injury or exile happening to any of the 24 guys ahead of him on the reliever depth chart — or possibly to a starter — would quickly bump his trajectory to Binghamton.)

I like that he's transitioning from starting to relieving, he had a taste of a successful team with Baltimore last season, and at $3.35 million, his contract is highly fungible.

Threads! These films could use threads!!

Apart from his 141 games in the NCAA, Drew Gilbert's played in 127 professional games, of which he played 21 with Asheville, 11 of which were at home. I imagine the data on him isn't queered too much.

I just floated those guys out there as a f'r'instance. I'm not advocating for them per se, but for maintaining a three-guy booth at all times — a play-by-play specialist, an analyst specializing in the pitching side of things, and an analyst specializing in the batting-and-defense side.

The best way to ensure smooth transitions is to give potential successors exposure — always maintaining a three-person booth by rotating a cast of substitutes in on the days when one of the three mainstays in unavailable. Presumably, if Murphy subs for Keith during a series in April, Cliff Floyd subs for him during a series in May, and Brian McRae steps in for a West Coast series in June, one of them will find his speed and reveal himself to be the right fit and the obvious choice when Keith does retire. In the meantime, the booth maintains its same dynamic, and the other two wouldn't have to change their roles to cover for an absence. Also, it's not really fair that the only time Todd Zeile or Jerry Blevins get called on to provide real-time analysis is when they are the only analyst in the booth.

Are you starting pitcher Dominic Hamel? Mike Vasil? Christian Scott? Perhaps you are reliever Kyle Crick? Or his penmate Eric Orze? Or their lefthanded companion Nate Lavender? Do you identify as first-round-pick Kevin Parada, catcher of pitches? Or veteran-standby-catcher-who-somehow-didn't-become-a-free-agent-when-removed-from-the-roster-after-four-years-and-161-days-of-big-league-service-time-accrued Tomás Nido? Could you be him? Are you, perchance, organizational mainstay catcher Hayden Senger? Do fans inexplicably scream "J-E-T-T! JETT! JETT! JETT!" at you? Perhaps that means you are top-ranked prospect, infielder/outfielder Jett Williams? If playing both of those seems complicated, perhaps you are merely outfielder Drew Gilbert? That's a good thing to be also!! If you are any of these fine gentlemen, please check your mailbox. You've been invited to spring training.

I like that the "other men" have only one penis to share among them. You know what happens in bathroom fights? Guys kick the dividers between the urinals off the wall and attack each other with them. Anyway, that's what I heard.

Less reported is that the sale by the Angelos family is preceded by disputin' and lawsuitin' between Peter Angelos' sons, with son Louis accusing son John of dirty tricks to get controlling interest. The two main figures in the purchasing group — David Rubenstein and Michael Arougheti — are in the asset management game, which seems like the best way to get rich enough to buy a baseball team these days. Minority figures in the purchase include Baseball Hall-of-Famer Cal Ripken, Jr., Basketball Hall-of-Famer Grant Hill (Rubenstein is a big Duke donor, and former chair of the board of trustees), former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and former Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke. I imagine those names are there to look good on the prospectus and secure partnership and community support. When in Baltimore, it's a lot harder to say GtFO to Cal Ripken.

Todd's taking it to the wrong Gary here. It was Gary Apple and Steve Gelbs that really threw him under the bullpen cart. [media=youtube]NxtLE9mV6NQ[/media]

The Mets should sign somebody to represent all the subway stops. Any word on whether this is a major-league deal? Gotta be, right? OE: SomeDudeonTwitter is calling it a two-year deal.

Some of Angelos biggest work as a lawyer was representing labor against management in workplace liability cases and such. Refusing to hire scabs might have been an expression of integrity, but he also would have been killing his golden goose. Also worth noting that in an industry where about 85% of owners are Republicans and 75% have supported President Trump to one degree or another, the Angelos family are a notable exception.

Everything about the Fisher case is weird. He only bought the A's after trying to take over the Giants as minority owner to move them to Tampa. Not to San Jose, where all the Richie Rich Giant fans can have easy access, but to Tampa, whose baseball legacy speaks for itself. MLB then lets him buy up the A's, he runs them on austerity forever, always trying to maneuver a way to move them out of town. It's as if he's completely alien to the Bay Area and could give two shits, but he's the son of the original Gap owner, and it's hard to be more San Francisco than that.

Doing some cleaning up. Transactions, 9/5/2023 [th]Direction[/th][td90]GOING[/td90][th]Transaction [/th][td90]Signed away by Long Island (Atlantic League)[/td90][th]Position Group [/th][th]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/th][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/642231/headshot/67/current[/fimg][/td90][th]Name [/th][td90]Jimmy Yacabonis [fimg=50]https://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/td90][th]DoB[/th][td90]1992-03-21[/td90][th]B/T[/th][td90]R/R[/td90][th]High Level[/th][td90]MLB (2023)[/td90] Jimmy Yacabonis is, of course, long gone. He even got a timely https://phpbb3.leaptoad.com/mets/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=32654&p=135494&hilit=memories+yacabonis#p135494Memories thread — a premature one, actually, but premature Yaculation is more than we did for Rafael Ortega. Also, his name sounds kind of like a Greek root vegetable. Transactions, 11/2/2023 [th]Direction[/th][td90]=#008410]COMING[/td90][th]Transaction [/th][td90]Signed as International Amateur Free Agent out of Venezuela, Projected for DSL-Blue[/td90][th]Position Group [/th][th]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/th][th][/th][td90][fimg=90]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/verdu-jermayne-2024.png[/fimg][/td90][th]Name [/th][td90]Jermayne Verdu [fimg=50]https://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/venezuelan-flag-small.jpg[/fimg][/td90][th]DoB[/th][td90]????-??-??[/td90][th]B/T[/th][td90]?/R[/td90][th]High Level[/th][td90]Academy (2023)[/td90] Verdu's signing back in November was lost in the shuffle, as the team also released about 30 players on the same day. As there was virtually no contemporaneous reporting, and he hasn't yet appeared, we know virtually nothing about him. Our photographers were able to get a shot of him, however, and report back to us that he throws righthanded and looks kinda like young Dwight Gooden. Transactions, 1/5/2024 [th]Direction[/th][td90]GOING[/td90][th]Transaction [/th][td90]Signed away by CHW to Minor-League Contract[/td90][th]Position Group [/th][th]=#FFC2C2] Outfielder[/th][th][/th][td90][fimg=90]https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-photos/image/upload/c_fill,g_auto/w_180/v1/people/542364/headshot/milb/current[/fimg][/td90][th]Name [/th][td90]Rafael Ortega [fimg=50]https://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/venezuelan-flag-small.jpg[/fimg][/td90][th]DoB[/th][td90]1991-05-15[/td90][th]B/T[/th][td90]L/R[/td90][th]High Level[/th][td90]MLB (2023)[/td90] The loss of Rafael Ortega has been reported in other spaces than this. As noted, he got into a surprising 47 MLB games in 2023. Much of that, however was do as much to merit as it was to the team trading away Mark Canha and Tommy Pham at the deadline. Transactions, 1/26/2024 [th]Direction[/th][td90]GOING[/td90][th]Transaction [/th][td90]Signed away by CLE to Minor-League Contract[/td90][th]Position Group [/th][th]=#FFC2C2] Outfielder[/th][th][/th][td90][fimg=90]https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-photos/image/upload/c_fill,g_auto/w_180/v1/people/661411/headshot/milb/current[/fimg][/td90][th]Name [/th][td90]Lorenzo Cedrola [fimg=30]https://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/venezuelan-flag-small.jpg[/fimg][/td90][th]DoB[/th][td90]1998-01-12[/td90][th]B/T[/th][td90]R/R[/td90][th]High Level[/th][td90]AAA (2023)[/td90] Lorenzo Cedrola's exodus was noted above by Cowtipper. He's a solid player who hasn't yet gotten hot at the right time to escape AAA. He heads to a Cleveland organization with a lot of options but a paucity of experience in the outfield, so that's a good a place as any to break through. He's currently tearing it up in the Venezuelan Winter League. Transactions, 1/29/2024 [th]Direction[/th][td90]GOING[/td90][th]Transaction [/th][td90]Designated for Assignment[/td90][th]Position Group [/th][th]=#00BF00] Catcher[/th][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/623168/headshot/67/current[/fimg][/td90][th]Name [/th][td90]Tyler Heineman [fimg=50]https://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/td90][th]DoB[/th][td90]1991-06-19[/td90][th]B/T[/th][td90]S/R[/td90][th]High Level[/th][td90]MLB (2023)[/td90] Switch hitting catchers are cool pieces to have laying around, but Tyler "The Assman" Heineman was currently projected to share time in AA with Kevin Parada, and that's not the sort of assignment that prompts you to give a 32-year-old catcher one of your precious 40 roster spots. Transactions, 1/30/2024 [th]Direction[/th][td90]GOING[/td90][th]Transaction [/th][td90]Signed away by TBR to Minor-League Contract[/td90][th]Position Group [/th][th]=#00BF00] Catcher[/th][th][/th][td90][fimg=90]https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-photos/image/upload/c_fill,g_auto/w_180/v1/people/680722/headshot/milb/current[/fimg][/td90][th]Name [/th][td90]Nick Meyer [fimg=50]https://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/td90][th]DoB[/th][td90]1997-02-18[/td90][th]B/T[/th][td90]R/R[/td90][th]High Level[/th][td90]AAA (2023)[/td90] It always seems like a good idea to bring in a Nick Meyer. You have young backstops that need the mentoring, and so you find a college guy or two who have all the habits and refinement and little of the skills. Those guys may never get a day in the bigs, but they're often happy to stick around as long as they can in the minors for the chicks and the free gym membership. It beats tending bar or dancing at Chippendales. Then it's June, they're hitting .200, and you're not so sure it was as good an idea as that. Transactions, 1/31/2024 [th]Direction[/th][td90]GOING[/td90][th]Transaction [/th][td90]Signed away by Ottawa (Frontier League)[/td90][th]Position Group [/th][th]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/th][th][/th][td90][fimg=90]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/rodriguez-arlison-2023.png[/fimg][/td90][th]Name [/th][td90]Arlison Rodriguez [fimg=50]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/curacao-flag.jpg[/fimg][/td90][th]DoB[/th][td90]2003-03-05[/td90][th]B/T[/th][td90]L/L[/td90][th]High Level[/th][td90]DSL (2023)[/td90] For many players, it's a sobering day when they give up on the chance of an offseason offer in affiliated ball, and settle for a job in the indies. But for Arlison Rodriguez, who had never made it out of the Dominican Summer League, a call from the Frontier League — which plays at something like the equivalent of A ball — is a second lease on his career. Plus, he's going to Canada, where it will probably be easier to establish permanent residency, if he so chooses, whether or not his career pans out.