NY Mets timed their Richard Lovelady DFA well for him to remain with the organization

Don’t pop open a bottle of champagne just yet. Richard Lovelady was DFA’d by the New York Mets, but that was always the intention. His split contract, with a $1 million salary at the major league level and $350K as a minor leaguer is going to have other ball clubs thinking twice about claiming him.

Bound to bounce around the league for the rest of his career and again this season, Lovelady is an out of options pitcher whose best attribute might be his sense of humor. With a name like Lovelady, you have to accept being named Richard hence his “Dickie” nickname he chooses to go by.

As far as a player goes, he didn’t yield promising results last year even if some of the measurables were good. His sweeper had a .200 batting average against and a 45.5% whiff rate. Qualities like this had the Mets timing out their eventual DFA of Lovelady, choosing late January for what feels like a purpose.

Many teams have full rosters, full payrolls, and even less interest in Richard Lovelady

$1 million for Lovelady isn’t a ridiculous overpay. It’s still more than any other team would probably be willing to offer on a prorated amount. In either case, this DFA feels like it has something to do with timing.

We see the Mets with a full 40-man roster. Most of the other teams out there have as well or at least are at full capacity on payroll. They’ve made the moves they’re going to make. Lovelady isn’t a final golden spike in a championship-caliber roster.

We’re only about three weeks away from pitchers and catchers reporting. When they do, the 60-day IL comes back. That means the return of the 60-day IL which will allow clubs additional space to make additions. The Mets will clear three roster spots immediately by placing Tylor Megill, Reed Garrett, and Dedniel Nunez on the list.

This small window of time is when you’d like to purposefully add players to the waiver wire because of how they might pass through more easily. It’s a thoughtful tactic David Stearns always seems to consider. Even if it’s only for the purpose of Lovelady, the intentions are nice and the attention to detail can be appreciated.

Save your best champagne, if you have anything left after the last week, for something else. Lovelady seems Mets-bound, unless the Boston Red Sox want a little payback for them taking Cooper Criswell earlier in the offseason under similar circumstances. They could actually use a southpaw in their bullpen.