29 teams should be lining up to steal necessary NY Mets roster casualty

Maybe it came a little sooner than expected, but the second DFA for Rico Garcia took place Saturday night following the New York Mets win over the San Francisco Giants. Garcia pitched on back-to-back days for the Mets, first logging a scoreless frame on Friday and finishing off the blowout victory with 2 runs charged against him on as many hits.

In 8 games with the Mets, he’ll hit the waiver wire with a 2.13 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, and 16 strikeouts in 12.2 innings. Batters hit just .159 against him in a Mets uniform. The other 29 teams out there should be lining up to steal him away.

Rico Garcia is both a consideration for contenders and teams who sold at the trade deadline

The Mets were going to need some sort of added roster flexibility post-trade deadline. Not something they had much space with already, their lone spot in the bullpen with an optional player belonged to Reed Garrett. The perfect opportunity to bounce from Garcia before things went rotten occurred. They got him for an inning on consecutive days. He didn’t pitch well on the latter.

Garcia was never meant to be a vital member of the Mets. For them to get as much from him as they did is impressive. At 30, he came to the Mets without much big league experience or success. A pit stop with the New York Yankees after the last time he was DFA’d look more in tune with how he has performed in the past. Something about Garcia and the Mets worked like a charm.

Although any team that might add him runs into the same inability to pass him into the minor leagues without first going through waivers, he showcased enough with the Mets to justify some innings. Not yet even arbitration eligible, he’s a cheap option for any bullpen and someone who might just be a steal late in the year for a playoff run or addition for next year’s ball club.

Teams out of contention can gain innings from a guy they could let linger around into spring training. Those with playoff hopes mine as well use him in the same way the Mets did. Run him dry if need be.

Garcia turned out to be an impressive under-the-radar find by the Mets this past offseason. A lovable underdog style of player, we should just hope he doesn’t land anywhere that could result in regret. Maybe if things don’t work out at his next destination he could always come back. It was a fun ride times two.