DJ Stewart and Joey Lucchesi Elect Free Agency

Updated post: Nov. 4 at 4:57 pm

It may be November 4, but the Mets are keeping busy this offseason. After claiming RHP Kevin Herget from the Brewers, the Mets also claimed INF Luis De Los Santos from the Toronto Blue Jays. De Los Santos appeared in 13 games for the Blue Jays in 2024, hitting .172/.226/.241/.467 over that short time frame. However, he’s played all over the diamond, spending most of his time at shortstop and third, but has experience at second and first.

In addition, the Mets sent OF/DH DJ Stewart, LHP Joey Lucchesi and LHP Matt Gage outright to Syracuse. Stewart and Lucchesi elected free agency, opting to test the open market. Stewart’s playing time vanished with J.D. Martinez‘s arrival and the emergence of Mark Vientos, relegating him to Triple-A Syracuse. Lucchesi made two starts with the Mets in 2024, a disastrous start against the Phillies in May and a brilliant (and very important) start against the Braves in the final game of the season.

Original Post: Nov. 4 at 2:48 pm

The Mets claimed reliever RHP Kevin Herget from the Brewers Monday, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The 33-year-old Teaneck, N.J., native who grew up a Mets fan, threw 11.1 innings in 2024 over seven appearances. In that limited frame, he pitched to a 1.59 ERA, giving up two runs on six hits and one home run. He struck out four and walked none of the batters he faced.

Herget debuted at age 31 with the Rays in 2022, giving up six runs in seven innings of relief. He pitched a career-high 24.1 innings with the Reds in 2023 to an ERA of 5.18. He throws a fours-seamer half the time, mixed in with a changeup, cutter and slider. 

The right-hander was drafted by the Cardinals in the 39th round of the 2013 draft out of Kean University in Union, N.J. He played high school baseball at Park Ridge High School in northern New Jersey. Herget joins the second iteration of reclamation projections for David Stearns and the Mets under Stearns’ sophomore year as president of baseball operations. Stearns made his mission clear in year one: rostering players with low risk and high reward.

Reports surfaced the Mets signed relievers Chris Devenski to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training and Dylan Covey to a Major League deal.

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