3 NY Mets on the 40-man roster added this winter who could be gone by Opening Day

The New York Mets' 40-man roster is at max capacity. Don't expect these three players to still be on it by the time Opening Day rolls around.

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3) Justin Hagenman

Another pitcher the Mets signed to a split contract this offseason is Justin Hagenman. Originally a LA Dodgers minor leaguer, Hagenman was traded to the Boston Red Sox at the 2023 trade deadline, along with fellow minor league pitcher Nick Robertson, for Enrique Hernandez. 2024 was Hagenman’s first full season with the Red Sox, but it did not go very well.

The right-hander pitched 90.1 innings at Triple-A this season, posting a poor 4.91 ERA, 5.61 FIP, and 1.32 WHIP. Hagenman had a solid 24.5% strikeout rate to pair with a 7.8% walk rate. But minor league batters teed off on Hagenman. He allowed home runs at a 2.06-per-9 rate. He had the ninth-highest HR/9 rate among all minor league pitchers who made at least 15 starts during 2024.

Hagenman also does not have a very high ceiling. His sinker only averaged out at 91-92 MPH with below-average movement. His slider was also a pitch with relatively pedestrian attributes with below average velo but solid movement. Neither his cutter nor change-up stood out in terms of velocity or movement.

Hagenman has minor league options remaining, but he seems to be in a similar boat as Covey. He is not a very high-ceiling pitcher, and given how poorly he pitched at Triple-A in 2024, Hagenman could definitely find himself on the chopping block before Opening Day 2025 arrives, especially if the Mets add more pitchers via trade or free agency before the offseason is over.

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