Ahead of tonight’s deadline, the New York Mets have announced that they have non-tendered two players: Scott Atchison and Omar Quintanilla.
Atchison appeared in 51 games for the Mets in 2013, pitching to the tune of a 4.37 ERA and a 5.39 RA/9 in 45.1 innings pitched, compiling a 3-3 record out of the bullpen. Atchison battled a groin injury throughout the season.
Quintanilla hit an anemic .222/.306/.283 in 359 plate appearances over 95 games. His 66 wRC+ was 10th worst in the majors among players with at least 350 plate appearances. Quintanilla started at shortstop while Ruben Tejada was in AAA Las Vegas.
In accordance with the non-tender rules, Atchison and Quintanilla are now free agents, able to sign with whichever team they’d like.
Marc Carig of Newsday reports via Twitter that the Mets are interested in bringing back Atchison despite the non-tender.
The Mets now have 38 players on their 40-man roster, and have until midnight EST to make finalize their non-tenders. Jordany Valdespin is viewed as a third possibility to be non-tendered.
Update (10:49 p.m. ET)-
The Mets have announced three additional non-tenders: Valedspin, Justin Turner, and Jeremy Hefner.
Valdespin hit .188/.250/.316 in 144 plate appearances over 66 games. He was reportedly a constant headache in the clubhouse, and his 50-game suspension owing to his involvement in the Biogenesis Scandal was likely the final nail in his coffin.
Turner hit .280/.315/.385 off the bench for the Mets. Unlike Valdespin, Turner was well liked by his teammates and was a favorite pinch-hitting option for Terry Collins. MLB Trade Rumors estimated that Turner would make about $800K through arbitration.
Hefner is probably the biggest surprise of the bunch. He pitched 130.2 innings of 5.18 RA/9 baseball (4.34 ERA) across 23 starts and one relief appearance. His 6.82 K/9 and 2.55 BB/9 were pretty good, and Hefner held opponents to a .299 wOBA in the first half. Hefner was shut down with elbow issues and had Tommy John surgery.
The Mets 40-man roster now stands at 35.
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It boggles my mind how Alderson hasn’t released Valdespin yet. It should have been done when he was done with his suspension
IT’S FINALLY BEEN DONE. VALDESPIN is GOING, GOING, GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONE.
He’s the non-tender man right now
359 at bats for Quintanilla! What a disgrace!
That is, plate appearances. And not even a very good fielder. Whatever. He sucks…..
I really wished they traded Ike Davis today before the tender deadline, it just makes the most sense.
Add Turner and Hef to the non tender list…
Dropping Hefner was pretty shocking to me. Perhaps there was a wink and a nod from both sides so that Hefner wouldn’t take up a spot on the MLB roster and with Alderson banking that all the other teams see his not so great 2013 total 4.34 ERA and not see his dominant stretch in the middle of 2013.
Really no loss on any of these guys. I’m hoping it makes room for new faces rather than resigning at lower value.
So Fister to the Nats tells us about pitching strength in the NL east. This does make things tougher for the Mets.
Stras, Zimmerman, Gio, Fister….yikes.
Turner was the most surprising because Collins loved him, played him over some of the young players and used him alot as a PH. Did Sandy send Terry a message here?
I hope Justin gets picked up by another team as I think he is a major league player. Good luck Red.
Valdespin is a cancer in the clubhouse. His arrogance and me first screw the club attitude are not in line with the other kids coming up. Time to let go and move on.
Hey Metsense! Get the feeling that TC doesn’t have any input on the roster?
If Hefner was cut because the team didn’t want to pay him while he sits out that is a disgrace. Turner and Hefner’s moves just scream “We’re trying to save money!”
Counterpoint? The Nationals added a guy with a 3.67 ERA in the AL, all for a .250 switch hitting utility guy, a lefty, and an AA pitcher. Because they weren’t afraid of Doug Fister’s $7MM contract for one year.
Roughly, the Nationals traded Justin Turner, Gonzalez German and Jeurys Familia for one year of Doug Fister. To be their *number 4* pitcher. They lost Dan Haren, and UPGRADED. Oh yeah. Fister will be paid $3MM LESS than the Dodgers will be paying Dan Haren.
And we’re sitting around, talking about Hefner. Wow. This off season is really starting to suck.
On the bright side (if there is one), it looks like the talks with Granderson are serious, and who knows what they could get in terms of a return for Ike Davis in a trade. Also I saw Jon Axford was non-tendered by the Cards, and could be a nice pickup for the bullpen. I mean, Hefner probably didn’t have a future on the team that wasn’t as a reliver, but it would’ve been nice to see him stick around.
Exactly JG. Teams are making real moves, and like usual, SA is watching carefully from the sidelines and doing very little. “Let the game come to me…”
It’ll be awesome when in March he again says “what outfield?”
2014? Its already tail lights Mets fans.
But who will rub shaving cream in the faces of postgame interviewees?
We are talking about protecting POTENTIAL value. We should have worked a deal with the Angels who are pitching starved…. Hafner will sign there. Low level prospects would be better than zilch. Still dislike CY signing….. 7 mill for a player I predict will platoon with Duda. OBSCENE I say. Bring on the young pitchers! Let them get ready for 2015 now! Then we see what 2016 holds with innings limit past them. 2014????? Welcome to another lost season. I predict Ike will start returning to form, since he has time behind him from valley fever recovery. With it bat speed as well.
Lineup:
1) EY JR -RF
2)LANGARES-CF
3) MURPHY-2B
4)WRIGHT-3B
5)DAVIS/SATIN-1B….LOOK AT SPLITS FOR MY REASONING
6)D’A-C
7)DUDA/YOUNG -LF
8) TEJADA- SS……. IN THIS ORG. WE MAY REFER TO IT AS SH#TSTOP
9) WE MAY JUST BAT A PITCHER AHEAD OF A POOR HITTING SS
Would I be thrilled, NO! Is it what I can see realisticly,YES! I do believe Ike will start to return to form, but has trouble with lefties, Satin hits lefties very well. CY hits lefties well also in career splits, Duda hits righties better. That is according to Career Splits, for all 4. Unlike many I do still believe in Ike. Yet want to see him show me he is worthy of it at this point. I believe a change is coming, and would love Dave Duncan to become a minor league pitching instructor, or coach.The change I see is more in the manager, TC, gone by mid- year.
This frugal team gave TC a 2 year deal knowing that the team will probably not fare well this coming season. We both know how cheap they are. Do you think they are going to fire him and have to pay him the remainder of his contract? Never happen. Sorry. TC is a very inexpensive caretaker. That’s why his salary is such a mystery that not even the media knows how much the Mets are paying him.