Cowtipper

Francisco Alvarez: Manager Carlos Mendoza indicated that Alvarez (knee) is scheduled to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday, Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record reports. Alvarez has been on the shelf the past few weeks after undergoing surgery to repair the meniscus in his right knee, but he's now been cleared for game action. The 24-year-old was initially expected to be sidelined eight weeks, but he's significantly ahead of schedule in his recovery. If all goes well with Syracuse, Alvarez could be back on the active roster in a week or two. Injury Knee. Est. Return mid-late June. Jorge Polanco: The Mets announced Saturday that Polanco's rehab assignment has been halted due to ankle soreness. Polanco began a rehab assignment last week and was expected to be nearing a return to the Mets' lineup, but he reported soreness in his ankle Saturday and will head back to New York to be reevaluated. The 32-year-old has dealt with Achilles and wrist issues this season, and he's now managing yet another injury. Polanco has been limited to 61 plate appearances across 14 games this season, and he's slashed an underwhelming .179/.246/.286 with one home run and two RBI. Injury Ankle. Est. Return 6/15/2026. Kodai Senga: Senga (spine) struck out five and allowed three earned runs on six hits and two walks across five innings in a rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Syracuse. Though Senga was able to build up to 91 pitches (54 strikes) during the third start of his rehab assignment, his control once again left something to be desired. In addition to issuing the two free passes, Senga hit two batters and threw two wild pitches. Overall, Senga has turned in a 5.25 ERA and 1.58 WHIP over 12 innings between his two starts with Syracuse and one with Single-A St. Lucie, so he'll likely need to show some better results during his rehab assignment before the Mets consider activating him from 15-day injured list and adding him to the big-league rotation. Per MLB.com, Senga is expected to make his next rehab start Tuesday with Double-A Binghamton. Injury Back. Est. Return 6/9/2026.

Anderson Severino has been released.

Eddie Haas died. https://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/former-mlb-manager-paducah-native-eddie-haas-dies-at-91/article_6ce0af6a-4c3d-4f9d-ba6f-3051d3a70215.html Who was Eddie Haas? Eddie Haas (1935–2026) was an American baseball outfielder, coach, manager, and scout whose career spanned several decades in professional baseball, primarily within the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves organizations. Though his Major League playing career was brief, he remained a long-term figure in the sport through coaching, player development, and scouting roles. As a player, Haas appeared in parts of three MLB seasons between 1957 and 1960 with the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Braves. In 55 major league games, he hit .243 with one home run and 17 hits. His playing time was limited, including a missed 1959 season due to a broken ankle, but he spent much of his career in the minor leagues, where he was a productive hitter with several strong seasons. After retiring as a player, Haas became heavily involved in coaching and managing in the Braves’ farm system, spending many years developing minor league talent and later serving as a major league coach. He eventually became the Atlanta Braves’ manager in 1985 after Joe Torre, but his tenure was short, as the team struggled and he was replaced midseason. Following his managerial career, Haas continued working in baseball as a scout for the Montreal Expos and Boston Red Sox. Coming from a family with deep baseball ties, he remained active in the professional game for decades until his death in 2026 at age 91, remembered more for his long developmental and scouting career than his brief time as a major league player.

I've read a gajillion Mets books in my day. I remember Worst Team Money Can Buy being solid Tales from the 1962 New York Mets covering stuff that doesn't usually get covered in most Mets books.

Why it could be a summer bummer or a summer stunner, we just can't tell!

At some point in May, Daniel Juarez, who was granted free agency in November, signed with Saltillo in the Mexican League. He currently boasts a 1.69 ERA in 7 relief appearances so far. In early May, Colby Frieda, released in March, was signed by the Nats. Luke Jackson, briefly in the Mets system, was signed by the Royals on May 22. Kevin Gowdy, released by the Mets in May, was signed by Mexico City in the Mexican League, also in May.

Jorge Polanco - Polanco (Achilles/wrist) played in back-to-back games for Double-A Binghamton on Friday and Saturday, going 1-for-3 with two walks, two strikeouts, a home run and three RBI. Perhaps more importantly, the 32-year-old started Saturday's game at first base, indicating that the Mets haven't given up on the idea of Polanco being an important contributor at the position. He has yet to play a full nine innings in any of his three rehab games, however, so activation from the IL may not be imminent. Per Max Ralph of MLB.com, manager Carlos Mendoza acknowledged over the weekend that Polanco wasn't going to be fully healthy when he does return. "It's to a point where he's not going to be 100 percent," Mendoza said. "But as he went through the intensity [of baseball activities], the running the bases and the sprinting and all that, the next day, it's like, 'Hey, it's not getting any worse. I feel better.' The biggest thing was that it wasn't getting any worse, and he was able to manage it and was like, 'I'm good to go now.' " Once he does rejoin the big-league roster, Polanco will compete with Mark Vientos, Brett Baty and Jared Young for playing time at 1B and DH. Injury Achilles. Est. Return 6/5/2026. Kodai Senga - Senga (spine) will pitch Wednesday for Triple-A Syracuse, reports Mike Puma of the New York Post. Senga will aim to throw around 85 pitches in his next rehab start on Wednesday for Triple-A Syracuse. If this start goes according to plan, the 33-year-old could potentially return to the big-league club following this appearance. In seven innings, Senga has recorded a 5.14 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 7:3 K:BB during his two rehab starts. Injury Back. Est. Return 6/9/2026. Syracuse Mets sent 3B Grae Kessinger on a rehab assignment to Brooklyn Cyclones.

Junk has been scratched.

Also, Severino had a 1.31 ERA at Triple-A. He'll get scooped up quickly elsewhere. Kind of a shame he didn't get to pitch for NY, that's a solid number.

I know Hayden Senger hit a home run in this one, but he's still not "good." However, former #11 overall pick Kevin Parada is hitting .429/.458/.571 for Syracuse, so it might be time to give him a shot. They promoted him to Syracuse pretty recently, so perhaps they're preparing for that move, anyway.

Wegmans Field has a nice ring to it. I worked for Wegmans once. Anyway, Francisco Alvarez - Alvarez (knee) is going through full baseball activities and could be ready for a rehab assignment as soon as next week, Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record reports. Alvarez is just over two weeks removed from surgery to repair the meniscus in his right knee. He was given an eight-week timetable to return immediately following the operation, but the catcher is poised to beat that timeline by several weeks. Injury Knee. Est. Return 6/9/2026. Justin Hagenman - Injury Ribs. Expected to be out until at least Jun 4. Jorge Polanco - Polanco (Achilles) will play two more rehab games and could be activated from the 10-day injured list some time next week on the Mets' road trip, Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record reports. Polanco has played one rehab game with Double-A Binghamton to this point, going 1-for-2 with a single and a strikeout. He's been out since mid-April with a right wrist contusion and left Achilles bursitis, and it's the latter injury that's lengthened his recovery. When he does return from the IL, Polanco will be used primarily at designated hitter. Injury Achilles. Est. Return 6/5/2026. Luis Robert - Robert was recently administered a series of injections for his injured back, Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record reports. Out since late April with a lumbar spine disc herniation, Robert has yet to resume baseball activities, but the hope is the injections will speed his recovery along. Robert is on the 60-day injured list and not eligible to return until late June. A timetable for his activation won't be available until he starts ramping up his activities and goes out on a rehab assignment. A.J. Ewing has taken over as the Mets' primary center fielder in Robert's stead. Injury Back. Est. Return 6/26/2026.

Mets also signed a young fellow named Randiel Vicente.

He had a 6.43 ERA in May; like most Quad-A pitchers, batters eventually figured him out. Still had a good WHIP on the year, though.

They call it ESL Ballpark now? That must be recent. It was still Frontier Field when I moved away from the Rochester area, and that was less than 5 years ago. ESL Ballpark is a lame name to be sure.

I'd give Clifford a shot. Why not? He could be our very own Joey Gallo.

Mark Bailey died. https://www.ky3.com/video/2026/05/27/former-mlb-catcher-missouri-state-star-mark-bailey-dies-64/ Who was Mark Bailey? Mark Bailey was an American professional baseball catcher and longtime coach who spent parts of seven seasons in Major League Baseball with the Houston Astros and San Francisco Giants between 1984 and 1992. A native of Springfield, Missouri, Bailey excelled as both a baseball and basketball player at Southwest Missouri State University, earning NCAA Division II All-American honors while helping lead the school to the Division II College World Series. Drafted by Houston in the sixth round of the 1982 MLB Draft, he quickly advanced through the minors after converting from infielder to catcher. Bailey made his major league debut in 1984 and soon became Houston’s primary catcher. Known for his size, versatility as a switch-hitter, and defensive work behind the plate, he enjoyed his best offensive season in 1985, batting .265 with 10 home runs in 114 games. During his time with the Astros, he also caught historic moments, including Nolan Ryan’s 4,000th career strikeout. Though injuries and inconsistency affected later seasons, Bailey remained a valuable organizational player and spent time in the Astros, Montreal Expos, Mets, and Giants systems before ending his playing career in the mid-1990s. Over 340 major league games, Bailey compiled a .220 batting average with 24 home runs and 101 RBIs. After retiring as a player, he transitioned into coaching and spent decades working throughout the Astros organization in roles ranging from bullpen coach to hitting instructor and catching coordinator. His long tenure reflected his reputation as a respected teacher and mentor for developing players, especially catchers. Bailey’s contributions to sports in Missouri and professional baseball were recognized with inductions into the Springfield Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2016 and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. He died on May 26, 2026, at the age of 64, leaving behind a legacy that stretched from standout collegiate athlete to major league player and influential baseball instructor.

I hope they win.

He's a low-BA guy now, but outside of this year he's actually been pretty effective since his age-35 year. From 2022 to 2025, he averaged 15 homers and 54 RBI per year. And he was good enough to be a starter. Might be worth putting him on the bench for a little while to see how he does.

Bob Horner died. https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/braves-face-third-major-loss-173929149.html Who was Bob Horner? Bob Horner was an American professional baseball player best known for his powerful hitting during the late 1970s and 1980s, primarily with the Atlanta Braves. Born in Junction City, Kansas, and raised in Glendale, Arizona, Horner became one of the most decorated college baseball players in history at Arizona State University. He helped lead the Sun Devils to the 1977 College World Series championship, won the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award, and became the first recipient of the Golden Spikes Award in 1978. His extraordinary college career included 56 home runs and 229 RBIs, records that stood among the best in school history for decades. Selected first overall by the Braves in the 1978 MLB Draft, Horner bypassed the minor leagues entirely and immediately joined Atlanta’s major league roster. He made an instant impact, hitting a home run in his debut and earning National League Rookie of the Year honors after blasting 23 home runs in only 89 games. Alongside fellow slugger Dale Murphy, Horner became a centerpiece of the Braves’ offense during the early 1980s. Despite frequent injuries, he consistently produced power numbers, including three 30-home-run seasons and an All-Star appearance in 1982. Horner’s most famous moment came on July 6, 1986, when he became just the 11th player in MLB history to hit four home runs in a single game. Following that season, he became entangled in the Major League Baseball collusion scandal, as owners secretly cooperated to suppress free-agent salaries. Unable to secure a satisfactory contract in the United States, Horner signed with Japan’s Yakult Swallows for the 1987 season, where he hit .327 with 31 home runs. He returned to MLB with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1988, but ongoing injuries soon forced his retirement. Over ten major league seasons, Horner compiled a .277 batting average, 218 home runs, and 685 RBIs while earning a reputation as one of baseball’s premier right-handed power hitters of his era. He never played a single minor league game, a rare achievement for a first overall draft pick. In retirement, Horner received numerous honors, including induction into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2022. He died on May 26, 2026, at the age of 68. George Riley died in 2023, but news of his passing was not uncovered until recently. https://www.stolfofuneralhome.com/obituaries/riley-10/ Who was George Riley? George Riley was an American professional baseball pitcher who appeared in parts of four Major League Baseball seasons between 1979 and 1986. A native of Philadelphia, Riley starred at South Philadelphia High School, where he became a local legend thanks to his dominant pitching performances. During his high school career, he compiled an undefeated 18–0 record, threw six no-hitters — including four in a row — and once struck out 21 batters in a single game while helping lead his school to a Philadelphia city championship. The Chicago Cubs selected Riley in the fourth round of the 1974 amateur draft when he was just 17 years old. After spending several seasons developing in the minor leagues, he made his major league debut with the Cubs in September 1979. Riley pitched in 26 games over two seasons with Chicago before continuing his career in the minors with organizations connected to the Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies. In 1984, Riley joined the San Francisco Giants as part of a trade involving veteran slugger Al Oliver. That season he earned the only major league victory of his career, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in a strong outing on September 23, 1984. Riley later spent time with the Montreal Expos during the 1986 season before ending his professional baseball career in the minors in 1987. Over his MLB career, Riley posted a 1–5 record with a 4.97 earned run average and 40 strikeouts. After retiring from baseball, he worked as an electrician and lived a quieter life away from the spotlight. Riley died on January 29, 2023, at the age of 66.

I remember being excited when the Mets signed Kimbrel and hoping beyond hope that he would rekindle the magic that made him the future Hall of Famer he was back in Atlanta. I was elated like a schoolgirl receiving a pony for her seventh birthday when he found his way to the big league staff for the regular season, and ecstatic as he found great success early on in the season. My heart broke into millions of pieces as he slowly fell apart, and here am I writing these words now, tears in my eyes, and melancholy like Poe on a rainy October's night.

Hours after inking Craig Kimbrel, the Rays signed Austin Slater to a minor league deal. https://nypost.com/2026/05/26/sports/rays-sign-mets-castoff-austin-slater-to-minor-league-deal/ The Rays have done well with Mets castoffs and former Mets prospects these past few years, Steven Matz has done well for them this year, and last year Jake Mangum was solid. Edwin Uceta, Eric Orze and Cole Sulser have also found success there.

Jorge Polanco: Polanco (Achilles) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Binghamton on Wednesday, Michael Mayer of MetsmerizedOnline.com reports. Polanco has been cleared to return to game action after being sidelined since mid-April with a right wrist contusion and left Achilles bursitis. It's the Achilles issue that Polanco has had trouble overcoming, and he will likely have to manage the injury the rest of the season. Polanco will probably require a handful of rehab games before rejoining the active roster in early June. When he does return, he's slated to see the bulk of his playing time at designated hitter. Injury Achilles. Est. Return 6/5/2026. Luis Robert: The Mets transferred Robert (spine) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Tuesday. Robert landed on the 10-day IL on April 30 due to lumbar spine disc herniation and has yet to resume baseball activities while he continues to deal with lingering symptoms of the injury. While surgery isn't on the table for Robert at this point, the 28-year-old has received consultation from outside doctors regarding a treatment plan for his symptoms, per MLB.com. Robert remains without an official timeline for a return, though his move to the 60-day IL ensures that he won't be an option for the Mets until at least late June. Injury Back. Est. Return 6/26/2026. Tyrone Taylor: The Mets placed Taylor on the 10-day injured list Tuesday due to a right hip flexor strain. Taylor was injured while running out a grounder in Monday's loss to the Reds. Per Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record, manager Carlos Mendoza said Tuesday that the team received relatively good news regarding Taylor's MRI, and the outfielder could return in as little as 2-to-3 weeks if all goes well. Injury Hip. Est. Return 6/15/2026.

On the bright side, David Peterson had a 2.50 mark in May before this start, and since April 19, it was a respectable 4.08.

A bit of a roster shuffle ... AJ Minter reinstated from the IL. Jared Young reinstated from the IL. Eric Wagaman selected to the roster. Tyrone Taylor to the 10-day IL. Jonathan Pintaro optioned to the minors. Nick Morabito optioned to the minors.

Well, that was quick, Craig Kimbrel is heading to the Rays on a major league deal. https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rays-craig-kimbrel-gets-mlb-deal-from-rays/ Let's see how he does.