Tossed salads get shaken up less than an MLB roster after the trade deadline. Almost three weeks removed from the last major effort to improve the New York Mets roster, we have some new additions helping to jiggle the depth chart around.
The more hypothetical than real depth chart is a “what have you done for more lately?” place that doesn’t necessarily pay much attention to position. Falling down the lineup, getting used in only low-leverage spots, etc. all play a factor for these four Mets.
Two are moving up the depth chart. Two others are falling down.
David Peterson is moving up the Mets depth chart
Let’s put some respect on David Peterson’s name. He is 2-0 with a 1.56 ERA in his last 3 starts. His starts aren’t always clean but the man gets results. Rocking a 7-1 record and 3.04 ERA in 13 starts this season, the only thing we could ask from him is the same request from the rest of the starting staff: throw more innings and walk fewer batters.
Peterson hasn’t been overly terrific for any extended period this season. Not once this season has he had a month where he struck out more batters than innings he pitched. Prone to giving up base runners as exemplified clearly through the .244/.341/.357 slash line against him, Peterson is a perplexing pitcher.
Credit the Mets defense and some timely pitching from Peterson to help work out of the jams. An average inning from him seems to include a single and a walk with a groundball double play to get out of it. This is a dirty way to get through a frame. Somehow, it’s working really well even with so many other pedestrian numbers.
In part rising up the Mets depth chart because others have faltered, Peterson has done the most important thing a pitcher can do. When he pitches, the Mets have a chance to win. They’re 10-3 in his starts this season.
Francisco Alvarez is moving down the Mets depth chart
Francisco Alvarez isn’t going to lose his job as the starting catcher for the Mets. However, with his poor offensive production and less fantastic defense, handing an extra start over to Luis Torrens each week isn’t such a horrific idea if only to see how the extra rest can help out.
The second-half stats for Alvarez remain ugly. A poor .167/.211/.236 with a home run and triple as his lone extra base hits have been the outcome so far. He has driven in only 4 runs versus Torrens who has assisted with 6 in his more limited time on the field.
Alvarez would probably bat eighth or ninth on a more regular basis if the handedness of the Mets hitters allowed it. They aren’t built quite perfectly in this regard and if the team prefers to have a guy like Harrison Bader batting ninth as a “secondary leadoff hitter” then Alvarez might regularly bat seventh just to help break up the lefties.
His drop in the hypothetical depth chart is less realistic and more theoretical. He can help deepen the Mets lineup, but expectations for him to accomplish this are no longer there. Just like last season when he disappeared later in the season, one has to wonder if a little more rest or days as the DH is the future blueprint he needs to be his best.
Phil Maton is moving up the Mets depth chart
When we look back at the 2024 Mets trade deadline, do not ignore the early addition of Phil Maton. An easy A+ deal for the Mets because it was a pure salary dump, the scouts got this one right.
Maton is right there alongside Edwin Diaz as the most trustworthy reliever in the bullpen. In fact, he might be a little more trustworthy.
The early deadline pickup has allowed only 2 earned runs in his last 11.1 innings after the All-Star Break. He has a 2.03 ERA overall with one early blip as a mark against him. If there is one complaint, it’s Maton’s inability to get into games where the Mets are actually winning and need him. He has now appeared in 5 consecutive games where the Mets lost which is beginning to feel wasteful.
This should even out eventually if the Mets are able to pile up a few consecutive victories. Used regularly in the seventh or eighth since coming to New York, he’s going to be an important part of the bullpen for the rest of the season. They just didn’t need him in a few of the recent victories. The holds will come.
Adam Ottavino is moving down the Mets depth chart
There isn’t much further Adam Ottavino can fall down the Mets depth chart. Up against possibly getting designated for assignment, his August hasn’t started off strongly.
Ottavino got beat up twice by the Seattle Mariners last weekend. He gave up an earned run and walked two in 0.1 innings in the 6-0 loss. In the 12-1 beating, Ottavino allowed a home run and 2 more earned runs while retiring only 2 batters. It came during a stretch when Ottavino finally seemed to have what it takes to make his plea to stay on the roster. He’s only here right now because the alternatives in the minor leagues aren’t much better—or so we think.
The rehab setback for Sean Reid-Foley might’ve saved Ottavino from getting DFA’d heading into this weekend against the Miami Marlins. Fortunately, Sean Manaea and Luis Severino stepped up and gave the Mets innings. We’ve only seen them and Jose Butto since Thursday’s fiasco against the Oakland Athletics that began with a PR slip-up with the first pitch and ended with Mets fans ready to throw in the towel.
The Mets haven’t been afraid to get rid of weak links on the roster this year. One of the last who just doesn’t have what it takes is Ottavino. No longer a pitcher to use in high-leverage situations, the Mets need to consider replacing him with someone more capable of eating multiple innings in blowouts.
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