(Photo via Brooklyn Cyclones)

The Mets have begun clearing some space in the minor leagues with the release of RHP Brandon Welch, LHP Carlos Valdez, and RHP Jose Celas. All three of them spent time with the Brooklyn Cyclones in 2015.

Welch, 24, was the Mets 5th round pick in 2012 out of Palm Beach State College. He pitched in only six games (9 innings) last year for the Cyclones with a 6.00 ERA and 1.22 WHIP. In his three seasons in the Mets system he has gone 4-2 with a 4.13 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 65.1 innings.

Valdez, 25, has pitched for the Cyclones in each of the past three seasons and pitched in seven games for the Savannah Sand Gnats last year. In his final season with the Mets he went 2-2 with five saves and a 3.48 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 41.1 innings. He has pitched in six minor league seasons covering 167.1 innings for the Mets.

Celas, 24, struggled with his control in 2015 walking 32 batters in 21 innings for Brooklyn. In five minor league seasons he is 6-7 with a 4.15 ERA and has walked 83 batters in 112.2 innings.

Yesterday it was reported by Baseball America that the Mets had sold the rights to right-handed pitcher Ricky Jacquez to the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League. He hasn’t pitched for the Mets since 2013 when he was 2-0 with a 1.74 ERA and 33 strikeouts over 20 2/3 innings for Kingsport. He served a 50-game suspension in 2015 for a second positive test for a drug of abuse.

Over the last week organizations have been releasing minor leaguers as they try to get their rosters set for full season Opening Day on April 7th. Three players that played in the minors for the Mets in 2015 were released recently by their new clubs: OF Cory Vaughn by the Arizona Diamondbacks,  RHP Jon Velasquez and LHP Darin Gorski by the Washington Nationals.