Mets Face Tough Decisions Ahead of Rule 5 Draft
Last year’s Rule 5 draft was a tough moment for the Mets. They lost right-hander Mike Bashir, who had a standout performance in the White Sox bullpen, and temporarily lost left-hander Nate Lavender, who spent the season on the Rays’ 60-day disabled list but returned to the Mets organization last week.
They’re hopeful that this year will be less painful, starting with the roster decisions coming up this Tuesday.
One key decision revolves around speedy center fielder Nick Morabito. He had an impressive season with the Double-A Binghamton team and did well in the Arizona Fall League too. The 2022 second-round pick has stolen 108 bases over the last two years, with a .291 batting average and a .771 OPS across four seasons in the minors. While he’s skilled at making contact, his power hitting is a bit lacking, with just 12 home runs in 300 minor league games. It seems likely that he may be more suited for a fourth outfielder role at the major league level.
Looking to bolster their outfield, the Mets could view Morabito as someone worth adding to the 40-man roster. They already have Tyrone Taylor as a reserve outfielder, but with other prospects like Carson Benge, Jett Williams, and AJ Ewing in the mix, they might see Morabito merely as surplus.
“I’m just going to use all my weapons to my advantage, get on base, play a good center fielder, make a lot of contact, and ultimately score,” Morabito noted last month. “I’m a big competitor and I love winning. I think that’s my biggest trait.”
In addition to Morabito, the Mets have several prospects eligible for Rule 5 consideration, including their 2022 first-round pick, catcher Kevin Parada, right-hander Adbert Alzolay (who the team signed last year while hoping to rehabilitate from Tommy John surgery), Saul Garcia, Douglas Orellana, Joander Suarez, Calvin Ziegler, and Lavender.
Another impending decision is fairly clear-cut. Edwin Diaz has turned down the Mets’ qualifying offer of $22,025,000, making him a free agent. If he signs with another team, the Mets would receive a draft pick after the fourth round in 2026.
