Breaking Mets News: Robert Carson Up, Aaron Laffey DFA’d

Around midnight, news broke that Robert Carson had been promoted from AAA.  Adam Rubin speculated that Josh Edgin might be the player he was replacing, but that (thankfully) wasn’t the case.

In Seven and two thirds innings pitched for AAA Las Vegas, Carson had a 1.17 ERA.  He allowed only two hits, walked two, and struck out seven.

To make room for Carson on the roster, Aaron Laffey has been designated for assignment.  Yesterday was the last straw for Laffey, who came into the game after the Mets had fought back to take a 5 to 3 lead. After recording the first two outs of the fifth, Laffey allowed two Nationals to reach before serving up an opposite field three run homer to Adam LaRoche as the Nats retook the lead.

Laffey had unsightly numbers before being removed from the roster.  In four appearances (two starts) over 10 innings, he gave up 15 hits and walked five.  His ERA was 7.20, and his WHIP was 2.10.

The next time the Mets need a fifth starter will be April 27th (Saturday) at Citi Field against Philadelphia.  Per the beat writers, the Mets feel that Shaun Marcum (who is scheduled to toss 70 pitches in his second rehab outing tomorrow) will be ready by then.

As has been stated repeatedly, Laffey simply isn’t major league caliber.  This move should’ve been made after his first start, but he hung around long enough to cost the Mets yesterday’s game.  If Marcum is indeed ready in six days, that would be a boost to a rotation that needs it badly.  Still, Jeremy Hefner’s hold on a rotation spot remains tenuous.  If he continues to pitch poorly, he would likely be replaced by Collin McHugh in the short term.  Once Zack Wheeler is ready, he’d likely come up to form a rotation with Jonathon Niese, Matt Harvey, Shaun Marcum, and Dillon Gee.

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