Cowtipper

Hector Valle died. https://www.syracuse.com/sports/2026/07/former-los-angeles-dodgers-catcher-dies-at-85.html Who was Hector Valle? Héctor José Valle Vázquez (October 27, 1940 – July 11, 2026) was a Puerto Rican catcher whose major league career consisted of nine games with the 1965 Los Angeles Dodgers, the eventual World Series champions. He batted .308 (4-for-13) with two RBIs while appearing in six games behind the plate, handling all 21 defensive chances without an error. Signed by the Dodgers in 1960, Valle spent much of his career in the minor leagues, highlighted by a .325 season with the 1961 Reno Silver Sox, a club later recognized among Minor League Baseball's top 100 teams. Before turning professional, Valle helped Puerto Rico win the silver medal at the 1959 Pan American Games. He played in the U.S. minor leagues from 1960 to 1971 before continuing his career as both a player and manager in Mexico through 1981. Valle also spent approximately 22 seasons in the Puerto Rican Winter League with clubs including the Mayagüez Indians, Ponce Lions, and Caguas Creoles. Widely recognized as the first Puerto Rican-born catcher to reach the major leagues, he remained an important figure in Puerto Rican baseball long after his brief time in the majors.

I like the guy with the word crotch in his name.

Bo Bichette: Sitting for third straight game. Bichette (leg/ankle) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox. Just as interim manager Andy Green hinted would be the case, Bichette will hit the bench for the Mets' final game before the All-Star break while he contends with general leg and right ankle soreness. In Bichette's absence, Zack Short will draw a third straight start in the New York infield. Bichette walked in a pinch-hitting appearance during Saturday's 4-0 loss and should be available off the bench again Sunday, setting the stage for his likely to return to the starting nine immediately following the All-Star break. Injury: Leg. Day-to-day. Justin Hagenman: The Mets announced June 1 that Hagenman (rib) has yet to resume a throwing program, MLB.com reports. Six weeks have passed since the Mets have provided an update on Hagenman, so the 29-year-old righty could be stuck in a holding pattern in his recovery from the fractured rib he sustained in a March 5 Grapefruit League game. Once he finally completes a throwing progression, Hagenman will require an extended minor-league rehab assignment and will likely be optioned to Triple-A Syracuse once he's activated from the 60-day injured list. Injury: Ribs. Est. Return 8/7/2026. Luis Robert: Another two-hit game in rehab. Robert (back) went 2-for-6 with two runs and an RBI while playing eight innings in center field in a rehab game with Double-A Binghamton on Sunday. Though he hasn't played on consecutive days since kicking off his rehab assignment June 30, Robert appears to have settled into a nice rhythm at the plate while out on the farm. He's turned in three straight two-hit efforts and is slashing .304/.360/.435 in 25 total plate appearances over six games between Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse. According to MLB.com, Robert is expected to require a day or two of prep coming out of the All-Star break before rejoining the Mets, but he appears likely to be activated from the 60-day injured list at some point during the big club's series with the Phillies next weekend. Robert has played exclusively in center during his rehab assignment, but the Mets could end up deploying him as a designated hitter when he's reinstated to allow superstar Juan Soto and rookies Carson Benge and AJ Ewing to continue playing regularly in the outfield. Injury: Back. Est. Return 7/18/2026. Marcus Semien: Semien (hip) began a rehab assignment with Double-A Binghamton on Sunday, logging five innings at second base while going 2-for-3 with a three-run home run. After landing on the shelf June 25 due to a Grade 3 left hip flexor strain, Semien initially appeared unlikely to make it back from the injured list before the beginning of August, but he's made more rapid progress in his recovery than anticipated. Semien will put his rehab assignment on hold during the All-Star break, but he's expected to report back to Binghamton or Triple-A Syracuse over the weekend to continue stockpiling at-bats in games. If all goes well in his initial rehab games following the break, Semien could get the green light to rejoin the Mets at some point during the final two weeks of July. Injury: Hip. Est. Return 7/20/2026. Syracuse Mets sent RHP Kevin Herget on a rehab assignment to Brooklyn Cyclones. Syracuse Mets sent RF Mike Tauchman on a rehab assignment to St. Lucie Mets.

Rob Zastryzny is correct!

Tyler Naquin is correct! A hint for the last guy:

Joaquin Arias is correct. Another hint: July 31, 1999: Traded by the New York Mets to the St. Louis Cardinals for Shawon Dunston.

I'd like to keep the established really big stars, those who have done something. So I'd probably just rank Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor as untradeable. Everyone else can probably go. That's a slight pivot over what I've said in the past, but at this point I do think a fire sale might be the best bet.

Hint: June 6, 2013: Drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 2nd round of the 2013 amateur draft. Player signed June 17, 2013. March 24, 2019: Released by the Chicago Cubs. March 26, 2019: Signed as a Free Agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers. November 4, 2019: Granted Free Agency. November 18, 2019: Signed as a Free Agent with the Baltimore Orioles. September 18, 2020: Released by the Baltimore Orioles. January 1, 2021: Signed as a Free Agent with the Miami Marlins. (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.) November 7, 2021: Granted Free Agency. November 29, 2021: Signed as a Free Agent with the New York Mets. August 25, 2022: Selected off waivers by the Los Angeles Angels from the New York Mets. November 18, 2022: Granted Free Agency. February 2, 2023: Signed as a Free Agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates. September 7, 2023: Granted Free Agency. December 12, 2023: Signed as a Free Agent with the Milwaukee Brewers. November 4, 2024: Selected off waivers by the Chicago Cubs from the Milwaukee Brewers. February 13, 2025: Granted Free Agency. February 17, 2025: Signed as a Free Agent with the New York Yankees. May 16, 2025: Purchased by the Milwaukee Brewers from the New York Yankees.

Veras never played in the majors for the Mets, but they did have him in their system. Here's a hint for one: August 31, 2010: Traded by the Texas Rangers to the New York Mets for Jeff Francoeur and cash.

It is what it is.

Awwww jeez.

Oh boy, here we go!

This has been a very good game.

This Zach Thornton is rather impressive.

It's looking promising so far.

Jared Oliva has been released and Matt Seelinger has been outrighted to Syracuse. Tobias Myers has been optioned and Zach Thornton has been recalled.

Bo Bichette: Dealing with sore legs, ankle. Interim manager Andy Green said Saturday that Bichette is dealing with soreness in his legs and his right ankle, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. Bichette's soreness helps to explain why he has been left out of the starting lineup since the Mets began their series against Boston. Green noted that Bichette is available off the bench, but the 28-year-old infielder may also sit out Sunday's game to give him more time to fully "reset" ahead of the second half. If that ends up being the case, Zack Short would be likely to pick up another start in the infield. Injury Leg. Day-to-day. Clay Holmes: Throwing live batting practice. Holmes (fibula) threw a live batting practice session Friday at Citi Field, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports. It's the first time Holmes has faced hitters since he suffered a fractured right fibula back in mid-May. The right-hander could begin a rehab assignment shortly after the All-Star break. He posted a 2.39 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 45:18 K:BB through 52.2 innings before getting hurt. Injury Lower Leg. Est. Return 8/7/2026. Mark Vientos: The Mets placed Vientos on the 10-day injured list Friday with a fractured right hand. Vientos suffered the injury during Thursday's game against the Royals when he was hit by a Michael Wacha pitch. He is expected to be sidelined 6-to-8 weeks, per Chelsea Janes of SNY.tv, so Vientos will likely be unavailable for the Mets until at least late August. Injury Hand. Est. Return 8/25/2026.

Jose Quintana, Omar Quintanilla, Al Pedrique and Jose Oquendo are correct! I'm pretty sure you're thinking of Shinqo's brother, he actually played for the Mets.

I mean this in the nicest way possible but the chick Steve Gelbs is interviewing is talking like an insufferable college-educated white woman who thinks she's a lot smarter than she actually is. Jeez louise I had to turn it to mute.

He's 21 and out of college, so we could theoretically see him in just a couple years if he does well in the minors.

Mark Vientoad

It's not uncommon for the Mets to ditch the middling relievers once they finally get blown up on the mound. Perez has been well-nigh eviscerated since June 16 (7.11 ERA), yet for some curious reason, he's still with the team.

The Brewers had a minor leaguer named Tommy Toledo and I thought that was the perfect baseball name.

By my count, only seven Mets have had names (first or last) that contain the letter Q. Can you name those seven players? Joaquin Arias Tyler Naquin Jose Oquendo Craig Paquette Al Pedrique Jose Quintana Omar Quintanilla

Before I spoil it, does anyone wanna try and name the last Met whose surname begins with Z?