Mets Make Moves with Veteran Outfielders as Season Winds Down
The Mets are bolstering their outfield options as the regular season approaches its conclusion.
Tyrone Taylor has kicked off his minor league rehabilitation stint with Triple-A Syracuse, where he went 4-4 as the starting center fielder. This is a positive step for Taylor, who has been recovering from a left hamstring strain since August 30.
At the moment, Cedric Marín and Jose Siri are the primary candidates for the center field position, but Taylor’s imminent return could shift the dynamics.
Offensively, Taylor showed great promise in August with an impressive .941 OPS before injury sidelined him. Overall this season, he has a .592 OPS, which, well, isn’t ideal.
On the other hand, Siri made his return from the injured list on September 9 after a lengthy recovery from a broken left tibia. He had a rough outing against the Nationals, facing some backlash after two defensive blunders during the Mets’ 12-6 win. His OPS this season sits at .292, and he’s struggled at the plate since returning, managing just one hit in twelve at-bats.
In another note, Sean Manaea is still on leave but is expected to pitch on Sunday against the Nationals—either as a starter or in a piggyback situation. He had a solid performance against the Padres last time he was on the mound, which could indicate he’s starting to find his rhythm again after a rocky return from the injured list in July.
Pitching coach Jeremy Hefner expressed confidence in Manaea, stating, “I feel really good about his work, his bullpen, and how he gets the ball.” It sounds like a good sign for him moving forward.
Manager Carlos Mendoza, however, has no updates regarding Reed Garrett and Tylor Megill, both of whom may be facing Tommy John surgery—a bit concerning for the team’s future.
Lastly, Francisco Lindor is on track to achieve a milestone. He needs three more homers to make it a record-setting season with at least 30 players hitting that mark, something the franchise has never done. Pete Alonso and Juan Soto are already there, so it’ll be interesting to see if Lindor can join them.
