Roster cuts are a part of the game. Whether due to the player’s ineffectiveness, health, or even how burdened the bullpen has been, it’s not unusual for the New York Mets to part with a large number of players throughout the year. It has become a modus operandi of David Stearns who quickly pulled the trigger on eliminating several players in 2024. The pattern has continued in 2025 with some relentless roster cuts.
Over the last few days, the Mets have parted ways with several members of their organization. It didn’t take long for them to find new homes. Here’s where each landed on their new contract.
Genesis Cabrera to the Cubs on a major league deal
Genesis Cabrera didn’t do anything wrong. A rain delay last Friday forced the Mets to overload the bullpen with work. Extra innings didn’t help. As a result, Cabrera was DFA’d with a 3.52 ERA in 7.2 innings of work. An offseason addition that had us wondering how the Mets were able to land him on a minor league deal, it was over before it seemed to really begin.
Cabrera landed with the Chicago Cubs on a major league deal. In his first appearance, he gave them 1.1 shutout innings while striking out 3 and walking another. For the Mets, it was a choice between sending down a player like Max Kranick, cutting recent trade acquisition Jose Castillo, or doing what they did and giving Cabrera the boot. Will it come back and haunt them?
Sean Reid-Foley to the Diamondbacks on a minor league deal
No one was going to give Sean Reid-Foley an immediate shot in the big leagues. Cut by the Mets in the preseason only to remain with the club after passing through waivers, the last of the pieces acquired for Steven Matz prior to the 2021 season is officially gone and it looks like for good. He has a new home. The Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to sign him to a minor league deal.
After posting a dazzling 1.66 ERA albeit with plenty of errant pitches last year in a limited sample size, Reid-Foley was assigned to Triple-A Syracuse for this year. An 8.36 ERA highlighted how far away he was from a major league return. He walked a batter per inning which completely negated the awesome 15.4 strikeouts per 9. He’s going to have to show the Diamondbacks much more if he wants to revisit the majors.
Jose Azocar to the Braves on a minor league deal but with an immediate promotion
Jose Azocar faced a similar circumstance as Cabrera. A quality performance for the Mets that led to a .278/.350/.278 slash line in 20 plate appearances, the problem was they just didn’t need a speedy fifth outfielder as badly as they needed someone who could hit. Azocar became the roster casualty when the Mets promoted Jared Young to help improve the offense.
Fans will likely be rooting hard against this former Mets player, as he’ll be a member of the Atlanta Braves. Technically signed to a minor league deal, Azocar has been promoted to the big league roster before playing a game on the farm. The Mets and Braves will face each other for the first time all year on June 18. Can Azocar stick around long enough to have an impact?