Devin Mesoraco, Adeiny Hechavarria, and Rajai Davis have all exercised their upward mobility clauses and gone through waivers unclaimed according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. With this being said, the Mets now have the option to either add them to their major league roster or assign them to the minor leagues to start the year.
Mesoraco, 31, has hit .240/.240/.480 this spring after signing a minor league deal to return to the Mets. The veteran catcher caught a majority of Jacob deGrom‘s starts in 2018 and hit .222/.306/.409 with eight doubles and 10 homers in 229 plate appearances with the Mets.
According to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, the Mets staff held a meeting yesterday where they talked about the practicality of Travis d’Arnaud avoiding starting the year on the Injured List. If d’Arnaud does start the year on the Injured List this leaves an opening for Mesoraco to be the backup catcher for the team on Opening Day. The Mets would have to add Mesoraco to the 40-man roster in that case.
Hechavarria, 30, is another solid candidate to start the year on the bench for the Mets. Hechavarria hit .247/.279/.345 last year combined from four teams, but the fact that he plays a solid shortstop (3 DRS last year) gives him a chance to make the Mets as a reserve. He’s hit just .233/.273/.400 this spring while his primary competition, Luis Guillorme, has hit .355/.474/.548.
Hechavarria would have to be added to the 40-man roster if he makes the Opening Day roster. He will make a base of $3 million in 2019 if on the major league roster.
Davis, 38, was another veteran the Mets brought in on a minor league deal and has slashed .310/.353/.552 this spring. However, he has struck out 10 times and not walked once in 34 plate appearances.
Last year, Davis hit only .224/.278/.281 in 101 games for the Indians. The outfielder has a combined -0.2 fWAR over the last two seasons. He’s unlikely to begin the 2019 season in the majors given the Mets outfield depth of Juan Lagares, Keon Broxton, Michael Conforto, Brandon Nimmo, and now Jeff McNeil playing out there too.
None of the three mentioned veterans are on the 40-man roster, and the Mets will have to pay them a retention bonus if they want to send them to the minor leagues.
