The obvious Mets roster cut to expect today with Drew Smith returning from the IL

The New York Mets have a couple of upcoming roster considerations with the starting rotation. Tylor Megill and David Peterson are each working their way back. However, with Jose Butto and Christian Scott pitching well, it’s hard to boot either of them. Megill and Peterson both had their shot to lock themselves into a rotation spot early last season. Plenty of struggles had them taking turns getting sent to the minors. How will the Mets handle it this time around?

Far bigger is the choice the Mets will make with Kodai Senga when he is ready to return from the IL. They aren’t sending him anywhere but the mound.

Today is the much easier decision. Drew Smith is expected to come off the IL. To make room, the Mets have only one choice.

Yohan Ramirez is about to get the Michael Tonkin treatment from the Mets

Literally only Reed Garrett even has a minor league option on this team right now. The Mets could, hypothetically, option Jose Butto or Christian Scott and keep Yohan Ramirez around for another day and allow themselves to have a larger bullpen. It’s kind of a needless secondary transaction and would only make sense if the plan was to demote one of them in favor of Megill or Peterson. Don’t count on it.

Instead, it’s Ramirez who will get designated for assignment for the second time this season by the Mets. He has stepped on the mound only once for the Mets since his return. Two perfect innings against the Atlanta Braves with 3 strikeouts won’t be enough to save him.

The last time it happened, the Mets were able to sell him to the Baltimore Orioles. Will the result be similar this time?

The only other candidate not mentioned who could get sacrificed (he won’t) is Sean Reid-Foley. The hard-luck loser in extra innings on Monday against the Philadelphia Phillies, a wild pitch and a walk to start the inning added a blemish to his season numbers. The unearned run was the first he has allowed in 9.2 innings on the year. Fantastic strikeouts number in this young year, the Mets are far better off with him than Ramirez.

Getting Smith back should be an upgrade but he, like so many of his teammates, does need to cut down on the walks. Already 7 in his first 10 innings, the ball four call remains a weakness of this pitching staff.