Cowtipper

Paul Sewald is correct. Another hint: This Nevada-born left-handed reliever spent parts of nine seasons in the majors with eight different teams, but some of his best work came in the Bronx before later returning to New York in Queens. Across two stints with the Mets, he appeared in 44 games, including a reliable 2020 season in which he posted a 3.96 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 25 innings.

The prospects are pretty weak here. Not too impressed, but Brazoban is also an old reliever who historically has not been too impressive.

Tommy Pham is correct. Another hint: A former Team USA Pan American Games silver medalist, this Nevada-born reliever endured a brutal start to his big league career before reinventing himself as one of baseball's top late-inning arms. He debuted with the Mets in 2017 and spent four seasons in New York, where he finally earned his first major league win after 118 appearances—then blossomed into a 100-save closer after leaving the organization.

The Mets selected Bryce Conley when they DFA'd Herget. He'll be a 31-year-old rookie, should he pitch for them this year. They also optioned Jonathan Pintaro.

Today's hint: This Nevada-born veteran outfielder overcame years of injuries and a vision disorder before breaking out with a 20–20 season in St. Louis, later becoming known as much for his fiery personality as his production. With the Mets in 2023 he revived his value by hitting .268 with 10 home runs before being traded at the deadline, then returned for a brief second stint in 2026.

Harrison Bader - 32-year-old former Mets outfielder (2024) is hitting .170/.198/.358 with 5 home runs and 14 RBI in 30 games for the Giants. At Triple-A, he has hit .222 in 6 games. He is currently on the 10-day IL. Javier Baez - 33-year-old former Mets infielder (2021) is hitting .289/.307/.412 with 2 home runs and 11 RBI in 28 games for the Tigers. He has hit .500 in 12 minor league at-bats. Anthony Banda - 32-year-old former Mets reliever (2021), was 2-0 with a 4.46 ERA in 39 relief appearances for the Twins. He is currently on the 60-day IL. Jacob Barnes - 36-year-old former Mets reliever (2021) is 3-2 with a 1.79 ERA in 46 relief appearances for Algodoneros de Union Laguna in Mexico. Chris Bassitt - 37-year-old former Mets starting pitcher (2022) is 4-4 with a 5.27 ERA in 12 games (10 starts) for the Orioles. He is 0-1 with a 3.52 ERA in 2 starts at Triple-A. Paul Blackburn - 32-year-old former Mets pitcher (2024-2025) is 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA in 40 games (2 starts) for the Yankees. Jeff Brigham - 34-year-old former Mets pitcher (2023) is 0-0 with a 6.52 ERA in 11 relief appearances for the Saraperos de Saltillo in Mexico. Jose Butto - 28-year-old former Mets pitcher (2022-2025) is 0-0 with a 22.50 ERA in 3 relief appearances for the Giants. He is currently on the 60-day IL.

Washington Nationals traded 1B Luis García Jr. to New York Yankees for RHP Ben Grable, RHP Yovanny Cruz, RHP Jack Cebert and RHP Jake Bird. Seattle Mariners traded RHP Luis Castillo to Chicago White Sox for RHP Seranthony Domínguez, C Boston Smith, RF Nolan Jones and cash. Chicago Cubs traded RHP Jameson Taillon and cash to Toronto Blue Jays for Player To Be Named Later. Los Angeles Dodgers traded CF Zyhir Hope, RHP River Ryan and RHP Brady Smith to Detroit Tigers for LHP Tarik Skubal. Toronto Blue Jays traded RHP Kevin Gausman to Chicago Cubs for CF Brett Bateman and SS Ty Southisene. San Francisco Giants traded RHP Tyler Mahle to Atlanta Braves for RHP Anthony Molina. New York Mets traded RHP Freddy Peralta to Tampa Bay Rays for RHP Gary Gill Hill, OF Aidan Smith and SS Émilien Pitre. New York Yankees traded RHP Camilo Doval and cash to Pittsburgh Pirates for C Omar Alfonzo and OF Luis Cruz.

Kansas City Royals traded CF Lane Thomas and LHP Bailey Falter to Atlanta Braves for LHP Carter Holton and RHP Lucas Braun. Boston Red Sox traded LHP Jojo Ingrassia to Detroit Tigers.

He was good once. An All-Star, even.

He's has been with this organization for like a million years now and they still haven't used him yet. Will they ever let him pitch or are they going to keep scratching my Crotch?

Clay Holmes: Looks ready to return from IL. Holmes (lower leg) tossed four scoreless innings in a rehab start for Single-A St. Lucie on Tuesday, giving up two hits and two walks while striking out three over 59 pitches (37 strikes). The veteran right-hander made his first rehab start July 23 for Triple-A Syracuse, but weather concerns caused the Mets to shift his second outing to the Florida State League. Per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, scouts from multiple teams were in attendance for Holmes' start as he topped out at 94.1 mph with his sinker and deployed all five of his pitches. His current schedule might allow him to come off the IL and make one big-league start for the Mets before Monday's trade deadline, assuming he isn't moved before then. Holmes' current contract includes a $12 million player option for 2027 that he's almost certain to decline after posting a 2.39 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 45:18 K:BB through his first 52.2 innings this season before a comebacker in a May 15 start fractured his right fibula. Injury: Lower Leg. Est. Return 8/2/2026> Dedniel Nunez: Injury: Elbow. Est. Return 8/1/2026. Cionel Perez: Out with strained forearm. The Mets placed Perez on the 15-day injured list Friday with a left forearm strain. Perez has tossed 5.2 scoreless frames with a 9:0 K:BB over his last five appearances but will be shelved for at least the next couple weeks. With A.J. Minter having also been dealt, the Mets have added Jonathan Pintaro and Xzavion Curry to their bullpen. Injury: Forearm. Est. Return 8/14/2026. Juan Soto: On IL with calf strain. The Mets placed Soto (calf) on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a strained left calf. Soto made an early exit from Friday's contest against the Dodgers due to a sore left calf, marking the second time he's been forced out of a game because of his calf since the All-Star break. MRI results confirmed Saturday that the 27-year-old has suffered a Grade 2 strain, per Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com, and although no definitive return timeline has been established just yet, interim manager Andy Green confirmed that Soto's absence will be longer than the two weeks he missed with a right calf strain in April. Jorge Polanco figures to see consistent starts as New York's designated hitter while Soto is out, and Eric Wagaman will come up from Triple-A Syracuse to replenish the team's bench depth. Injury: Calf. Est. Return 8/21/2026. Austin Warren: Warren (forearm) will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A St. Lucie on Tuesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. Warren has been cleared to test things out in games after missing the past three weeks of action with a right forearm strain. He'd been effective before getting hurt, holding a 2.45 ERA and 36:16 K:BB over 33 innings. Warren shouldn't need too many rehab outings before being reinstated to the active roster. Injury: Forearm. Est. Return 8/1/2026. ^^ that Warren update is dated, here's a newer one: New York Mets sent RHP Austin Warren on a rehab assignment to Brooklyn Cyclones. Syracuse Mets sent 2B Andy Ibáñez on a rehab assignment to Brooklyn Cyclones. Syracuse Mets placed RHP Guillo Zuñiga on the 7-day injured list. Syracuse Mets placed RHP Joey Gerber on the 7-day injured list.

The Brewers traded outfielder Blake Perkins and right-hander Craig Yoho to the Guardians for catcher Bo Naylor and right-hander Codi Heuer, then optioned both newcomers to Triple-A.

Gil Blanco died. https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=blancgi01 Who was Gil Blanco? Gil Blanco was a left-handed pitcher who reached the major leagues as a teenager after signing with the New York Yankees in 1964. A native of Phoenix, Arizona, the 6-foot-5 hurler made his MLB debut on April 24, 1965, and appeared in 28 career games over two seasons with the Yankees and Kansas City Athletics. He posted a 3–5 record with a 4.45 ERA, striking out 35 batters in 58⅔ innings before his major league career ended in 1966, prior to his 21st birthday. Blanco spent several additional seasons in the minor leagues with multiple organizations but did not return to the majors. A highly regarded "bonus baby" prospect, he was noted for beginning his big league career with seven scoreless relief innings and remains the only American-born major leaguer with the surname Blanco. Blanco died on July 9, 2026, in his hometown of Phoenix at the age of 80.

It's that time of year again, the annual updates checking in on how active former Mets, Mets prospects, folks in their organization, etc., are doing this year. Lettuce begin. Luisangel Acuna - 24-year-old former Mets infielder (2024 and 2025) is hitting .241/.273/.277 with 1 home run, 12 RBI and 15 steals in 77 games as a reserve for the Chicago White Sox. Ty Adcock - 29-year-old former Mets reliever (2024 & 2025) is 1-1 with a 7.30 ERA in 23 games (1 start) across three stops in the Padres chain this season. Abraham Almonte - 37-year-old former Mets outfielder Abraham Almonte (2023) has hit .260/.398/.443 with 8 home runs and 20 RBI in 67 games across two stops in the Mexican League. Pete Alonso - 31-year-old former Mets slugger (2019-2025) is hitting .252./.348/.470 with 23 home runs and 69 RBI in 110 games for the Orioles. Aaron Altherr - 35-year-old former Mets outfielder (2019) is hitting .219/.298/.378 with 6 home runs and 24 RBI in 39 games for the independent Chicago Dogs. Jonathan Arauz - 27-year-old former Mets infielder (2023) is hitting .204/.292/.322 with 2 home runs and 16 RBI in 44 games for the Tecolotes de Dos Laredos in Mexico. Jose Azocar - 30-year-old former Mets outfielder (2025) hit .353/.389/.471 in 17 at-bats for the Braves. He's currently in the minors, where he's hitting .259/.305/.347 with 3 home runs, 33 RBI and 16 steals in 68 games for Triple-A Gwinnett.

Clay Holmes on rehab to Brooklyn. Robert Stock selected from the minors. Kevin Herget promoted then DFA'd. MJ Melendez DFA'd. Joey Gerber released. Catcher Shawn Ross claimed off waivers from Pittsburgh, then optioned.

Baltimore Orioles traded RHP Dean Kremer to Minnesota Twins for OF Jhomnardo Reyes. Detroit Tigers traded C Jake Rogers to Baltimore Orioles for RHP Zane Barnhart.

Today's hint: A former first-round draft pick who waited a decade to reach the majors, this Nevada-born infielder made his big league debut with the Mets in 2021 against the team that originally drafted him. He collected just one hit in five games for New York before later appearing with the Diamondbacks, and eventually returned to the Mets organization as a Double-A coach.

I actually don't mind this deal, despite the snark above. What else were the Mets going to get for a reliever who gave them two injured partial seasons, who was coming off an injured season when he got to New York? It's not a bad trade. Now if the Mets would just stick with developing the prospects the bring aboard instead of shipping them off later on, that'd be greaaaaattttt.

As with most relievers with some pedigree the Mets sign, I was cautiously optimistic about Minter. I remember thinking of him as damaged good when he arrived and he ended up becoming damaged goods with us. But I have no bad memories of his actual performance with the club, when he actually pitched for them. Minter kinda reminds me of Justin Wilson. Very good relievers with the Mets, but because he played basically two partial seasons with the club instead of one full season, he's gonna be harder to remember. If he had done all his work in one campaign a la Mark Guthrie or Ricky Bottalico, he would be a lot more memorable.

Today's hint: Drafted in the 35th round, this Nevada-born right-handed reliever spent six seasons working his way through the Mets' farm system before making his major league debut in 2017 by striking out two batters in a scoreless inning. He went 2–0 with a 3.74 ERA in 28 appearances for the Mets before being claimed off waivers by the Mariners, where he finished his big league career undefeated with a 7–0 record.

Put some Neosporin on it and he'll be fine.

I'm a jenius

Is it Tom Wilson? Wilson the sporting goods brand would be on the front, Wilson his last name would be on the back.

The Stearns train just keeps a-rollin'!

Mr. Wendal, now I get it.