The Mets introduced Monday that they’ve designated left-hander Jake Diekman for task and chosen the contract of fellow lefty Matt Gage from Triple-A Syracuse to take his spot on the roster.
Diekman, a 37-year-old veteran reliever, joined the Mets on a one-year, $4M deal again in February. In 32 innings for the Mets, Diekman has punched out practically 28% of batters confronted, although his longstanding management points continued. Final yr, Diekman benefitted from solely 6% of his flyballs leaving the yard, a pattern which has reversed in 2024 as he’s seen a whopping 29.2% of flies go for homers. Consequently, Diekman has allowed seven residence runs already this yr — 4 of which got here in his final seven appearances. Mets supervisor Carlos Mendoza used Diekman in high-leverage spots in Could and June, however as you’d anticipate, that’s modified in July.
Diekman’s contract features a $4M membership possibility for 2025 that turns into assured with 58 video games. The lefty presently has 43 appearances. Although somebody would possibly need to choose Diekman up, different groups’ need to keep away from that 2025 vesting possibility means Diekman will possible be launched by the Mets and signal a brand new deal.
Of late, Mendoza and the Mets have been leaning on Edwin Diaz, Jose Butto and Dedniel Nuñez within the highest-leverage aid conditions. The membership picked up righty Ryne Stanek
in a trade with the Mariners late final week. Gage will be a part of incumbent lefties Alex Young and Danny Young after posting a 3.42 ERA, 30 Ok% and 12.4 BB% in 26 1/3 innings for the Dodgers’ and Mets’ Triple-A associates.