Mets spring training hero released from his contract, another player gone through waivers

How quickly has the MLB season gone by? If the New York Mets already being past their 81-game midway point wasn’t enough of an indication, the freshness of what Trayce Thompson did for the club in spring training is sure to spark some feelings of “where has the time gone?”

Thompson was signed to a minor league deal to add some needed depth to the organization beyond the infield dirt. He had some big spring hits including a grand slam. He was released from his contract on the Fourth of July. He’d finish slashing .250/.308/.583 with a pair of home runs before joining the Triple-A team in Syracuse.

It was a slow start for Thompson in the minors, but he eventually found his swing. In 62 games for Syracuse, Thompson hit an unimpressive .228/.300/.500. Power was the biggest weapon. The 33-year-old swatted 16 home runs and drove in 44 in his quest to return to the big leagues again.

Another Mets minor leaguer was lost on waivers after just 2 games

Speed demon Duke Ellis didn’t stick with the Mets organization for long. Picked up on waivers from the Chicago White Sox recently, Ellis appeared in just two games for the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies. He went 2 for 6 and was caught stealing for just the third time in 37 attempts this season combined in the majors and minors. 

Ellis’ time with the Mets came to a close due to a waiver claim by the Seattle Mariners. Never anything more than a pinch runner consideration for the team later on this season, it was an understandable DFA by the front office. The priority for the Mets is to find who can fit into this bullpen. With Shintaro Fujinami and Kodai Senga rehabbing their way back, the Mets will need room on the 40-man roster as both are coming from the 60-day IL.

The quick trigger finger on struggling players has been part of the M.O. of this front office. It has dipped even into the minors where several players have quickly come and gone. The team currently has minor league signings Ben Gamel and Jose Iglesias on the MLB roster working their way into more important roles. Easily the two most successful ones of the offseason, there are a few more we could see in the majors if the need arises. Rylan Bannon first comes to mind.

Among those likely to get shown the door, expect Yolmer Sanchez who won a Gold Glove to head into free agency at some point. While there isn’t much urgency to dump him since he is nothing more than infield depth, paving the way for any other roster replacements should have the Mets releasing the veteran switch hitter in favor of someone who could have a future with the organization. As a second baseman, he’s not so useful with Luisangel Acuna and now Brett Baty needing reps at the position.