Updated Post 1/24 3:30 PM

Anthony DiComo answered some questions in this weeks mailbag feature for Mets.com. He had some interesting things to say about Mets players who are out of options.

Quite a few young Mets are out of options, actually, which should make for some interesting Spring Training competitions. Though the team recently signed Scott Hairston and Willie Harris to compete for backup outfield spots, fellow outfielders Nick Evans and Jason Pridie are out of options — meaning if they don’t make the club, New York must expose them to other teams through the waiver process. Though both are Collins favorites, their days with the Mets may be numbered.

Also out of options are middle infielders Luis Hernandez and Chin-lung Hu. There isn’t room on the roster for both of them, meaning whoever loses the Spring Training competition may need to seek employment elsewhere. And the fact that those two are out of options does not bode well for the chances of Justin Turner — who does have remaining options — making the team.

In the bullpen, Manny Acosta is out of options, making him a strong candidate to earn a spot. Same goes for Pat Misch, who would be first in line should Collins feel inclined to break camp with a long reliever.

It would be a shame to lose Evans before we ever got a real chance to see what he can do at the major league level. As for Acosta and Misch, I don’t know where they would fit in given the additions of Taylor Buchholz, Taylor Tankersley, Chris Capuano and Tim Byrdak. Minor leaguer Mike O’Connor will also be competing for a job in the bullpen as well.

Original Post 1/20 6:00 PM

The Mets have announced that outfielder Jason Pridie and starting pitcher Tobi Stoner have been designated for assignment.

These moves were made to make room on the roster for newly signed Chris Young and Scott Hairston.

Stoner, 26, has appeared in five games for the Mets.  In 11 1/3 innings pitched he has a 3.97 ERA with a 1.412 WHIP.

Pridie, 27, has played in 11 Major League games for the Minnesota Twins.  The outfielder has yet to get a Major League hit.

I had been saying that Pridie would get cut all along, but I was a little surprised they cut Stoner instead of Luis Hernandez, reason being that the Mets protected Tobi Stoner from the Rule 5 Draft.

At least we can now put the Luis Castillo rumors to bed.