Aug 8, 2021; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher John Curtiss (46) throws a pitch during the sixth inning against the San Francisco Giants at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
The Mets signed right-handed reliever John Curtiss on Wednesday. The 29-year-old underwent Tommy John surgery last season and will not pitch for New York this year. Curtiss will report straight to the 60-day injured list.
The Mets have a club option on Curtiss for 2023.
In a corresponding move, Travis Blankenhorn was designated for assignment.
Curtiss began his major league career in 2017 as a member of the Twins. He barely pitched his first three seasons in the majors, tossing 8.2, 6.1, and 2.1 innings from 2017-to-2019, respectively.
Curtiss then found a home in Tampa Bay during the shortened 2020 season where he turned his career around. Curtiss opened and closed games for the Rays, leading to a season with a 1.80 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 25 innings.
He remained in Florida in 2021, getting traded to Miami. In 35 games for the Marlins last season he had a 2.48 ERA in 35 games, totaling 40 innings pitched and 40 strikeouts.
Curtiss was traded in July last year to Milwaukee where he only pitched 4.1 innings before his elbow injury derailed what was setting up to be a great season.
Curtiss was granted free agency in November and will now rehab with the Mets with a chance to compete for a roster spot come next spring.
The current Mets bullpen has six members – Edwin Diaz, Trevor May, Adam Ottavino, Seth Lugo, Trevor Williams, Chasen Shreve – set to be free agents at the end of the season. Signing Curtiss is a preemptive move by general manager Billy Eppler before a busy offseason with that position.
Blankenhorn is 25 and has appeared for the Mets as a pinch hitter, second baseman, and outfielder. He was DFA’d because the Mets needed to open up a 40-man roster spot in order to place Curtiss on the 60-day IL. If he’s not claimed he’ll likely end back up in Syracuse as upper minors depth.
