3 NY Mets players who won't be on the roster by July 1

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The New York Mets have been actively making changes over the last several weeks with DFAs, promotions, and everything else we can question and debate. We’re almost halfway through the month of June. What will the roster look like on July 1?

For sure, it’s these three players who look like they won’t make it through the rest of the month.

1) Josh Walker won’t be on the NY Mets roster by July 1

We know the deal with Josh Walker. He’s getting a shot with the Mets because why not? The converted lefty starter has been swell in a relief role down in Syracuse. A 1.45 ERA in 18.2 innings of work is worth a closer examination considering the team has already DFA’d Stephen Nogosek and Tommy Hunter.

Some of these same rules apply for other Mets relievers with minor league options. John Curtiss and Jeff Brigham have seen stretches of success and failure with the ball club. However, it’s Walker, the least proven of the three, whose leash is likely to be the shortest.

Walker has a long way to go before Buck Showalter gives him anything other than mop-up innings. Control has been an issue for him since becoming a reliever. The strikeouts are high but those free passes are coming in abundance, too.

Walker’s only chance of remaining on the Mets roster through July 1 is for him to throw perfect innings or watch as his teammates get hammered or hurt. If he can join the reliever rotation of players going back and forth between Triple-A and the majors for the rest of the season, it’ll be a success.

2) Dominic Leone won’t be on the NY Mets roster by July 1

So Walker, Curtiss, and Brigham could all be gone by July 1. The same is true for Dominic Leone whose presence on the Mets is as questionable as anyone’s. The only reason he hasn’t been dismissed could be sample size. The team got rid of the deadweight of Nogosek and Hunter in the bullpen. All that’s left to linger among the relievers without minor league options is Leone.

Leone wasn’t a bad pickup for the Mets. His 1.51 ERA in 2020 is definitely enough to catch anyone’s eye. The fall to 4.01 last season with the San Francisco Giants was certainly a little more of an explanation as to why he didn’t sign anywhere in the offseason. Add in his 1.60 WHIP and we find a player who is probably trending in the wrong direction.

The Mets haven’t gotten a whole lot from Leone. He has been, in a lot of ways, even more useless to have around than Nogosek or Hunter. At least they were able to eat up multiple innings at a time. When Leone pitches, he tends to only get the sixth or seventh in a Mets loss.

Pitchers like Leone might be necessary for rosters. The Mets need to be better than to continue carrying him. One mop-up guy who can take one on the chin for two or three frames as needed is okay. Preferably, it’s someone with minor league options. Leone has a lot more to do in order to prove he should stick around by July 1.

3) Daniel Vogelbach won’t be on the NY Mets roster by July 1

The best has been saved for last. The Daniel Vogelbach era in Queens will end by July 1. He didn’t start a single game for the Mets this weekend against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Friday was a given against the lefty Rich Hill. He didn’t even get into the starting lineup on Saturday or Sunday.

It’s official. Vogelbach is officially useless.

In the absence of Pete Alonso, the excuse to keep Vogelbach and even give him a start at first base is right there. The Mets have refused. Surely this is a sign of things to come. No roster, especially not this Mets team, has a use for a left-handed pinch hitter who doesn’t do a whole lot of hitting.

For some extra boldness, it could be possible Vogelbach is the first player from this list excused from the roster. Walker was just called up and alternative options are limited. Leone would need to be DFA’d in order to remove him from the 26-man roster. The Mets might be a little hesitant to make that move so soon after getting rid of Nogosek and Hunter.

Exactly how they replace Vogelbach is the big unknown. Carrying a third catcher is still an option with Michael Perez likely to become someone to hang around and get behind the plate once a week. It can allow Omar Narvaez and Francisco Alvarez to share duties behind the dish. As crazy as it may sound, it’s probably going to provide the Mets with the best possible starting lineup they can muster right now.

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