The New York Mets made some roster moves before Saturday afternoon’s game. Manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters that the team placed Starling Marte on the bereavement list and pitcher Drew Smith on the injured list with shoulder inflammation. Infielder Mark Vientos and pitcher Dedniel Núñez were recalled from Triple-A Syracuse as roster replacements.
Starling Marte went to bereavement list (should be three days, Mendoza said. Vientos takes his spot on roster.
Drew Smith headed to IL. RHP Dedniel Nunez is up with the Mets.
— Will Sammon (@WillSammon) April 27, 2024
New York Mets Make Roster Moves on Saturday
Mets Lose Starling Marte and Drew Smith
Marte has rebounded well from a rough 2023 campaign. Since April 13, Marte is hitting .327 with an .897 OPS and three homers. While the 35-year-old should miss only three days, he’s an important piece to the lineup. Fortunately for New York, depth pieces like DJ Stewart and Tyrone Taylor have performed well this year and should see more playing time in Marte’s brief absence.
Carlos Mendoza says that the Mets are placing Starling Marte on the bereavement list and Drew Smith on the IL with shoulder inflammation: pic.twitter.com/AC8DyQ38JJ
— SNY (@SNYtv) April 27, 2024
Like Marte, Smith has also stepped up after a poor 2023. In 10 innings, the righty has recored 11 strikeouts and one save with a 149 ERA+. The Mets placed southpaw Brooks Raley on the IL last weekend, and Smith was a candidate to see increased time against lefties in his absence.
Instead, Smith will be sidelined with yet another injury. A free agent after this season, Smith has dealt with shoulder and elbow injures in the past. Evidently, a similar issues have popped up once again. Mendoza said that an MRI revealed relatively good news regarding Smith’s shoulder, and the team doesn’t expect him to be out for much longer than two weeks.
Mets Call Up Vientos and Núñez
In predictable fashion, Vientos has mashed this season in the minors. The 24-year-old hit .302 with a .923 OPS and five homers and 22 RBI in 86 at-bats this season. The slugger entered the season with little to prove, from an offensive standpoint, in the minors. However, Vientos’ skillset became superfluous after the team signed J.D. Martinez.
Vientos was optioned at the end of Spring Training mainly due a numbers game. Now, Martinez and Vientos will both be on the big-league roster one day after Martinez made his Mets debut. It’s funny how baseball works out this way sometimes.
Mark Vientos clubs a three-run home run to left field to tie the game! pic.twitter.com/Fgdf6v59ca
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) April 26, 2024
While Vientos has struggled in the majors, he hasn’t received consistent at-bats. Throughout his minor league career, the young slugger typically takes around a week to get acclimated to a new level. He played every day for the last week or so of 2023 and had his best stretch.
The Mets roster moves on Saturday will give Núñez his second stint in the majors. The flamethrower made one appearance earlier in the year when the Mets needed fresh bullpen arms. With the Mets just starting a stretch of 39 game in 41 days, the bullpen carousel will likely be ridden hard for the next several weeks.
Núñez seems to be the first rider. In Triple-A this season, the 27-year-old has struck out 12 and walked three in 7 1/3 innings. The Mets will hope this skill, plus his ability to pitch multiple innings, translates to the majors.
Main Photo Credits: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
