With Opening Day being less than a week away for the Mets full season affiliates, the organization has made a series of transactions to help those rosters take shape.
As reported by MMN‘s Jacob Resnick, the Mets have released infielder J.J. Franco. Franco is the son of the former Mets closer and current special advisor John Franco. Franco played 55 games between St. Lucie and Binghamton last year hitting .229/.335/.267.
Resnick also reports the Mets have released infielders Malvin Nunez and Andres Parra from their Dominican complex.
MMN‘s Michael Mayer reports the Mets have released LHP Sean Burnett. The 36 year old allowed five earned runs in 2.2 innings this Spring. He has not pitched in the majors since 2016.
Mayer also reports the Mets have also released OF Raphael Gladu, RHP Miguel Ramirez, RHP Boris Sanchez, OF Patricio Diaz, and OF Jean Carlos Soto.
Gladu was the only one from the aforementioned five players to play for a full season affiliate. Last year, he had a 28 game hitting streak for the Columbia Fireflies. However, even with the hitting streak, he would only hit .261/.307/.364 between Columbia and St. Lucie.
In addition to the players being released, Mayer reports a trio of Mets teenage infield prospects will make the jump from Kingsport to Columbia. The three players are SS Shervyen Newton, SS Ronny Mauricio, and 3B Mark Vientos. Mauricio and Newton were named in different top 100 prospect lists.
With Newton and Mauricio both playing short last year, the Mets are going to have to figure out if they want both to split the position or if one will make a position change in 2019. It should be noted with Luis Santana being traded to Houston in the J.D. Davis deal, there should be playing time available for either player at second.
Also, as has been widely reported, with the Mets nearing towards putting Devin Mesoraco on the restricted list instead of granting him his release, the Mets have brought Rene Rivera back to the organization on a minor league deal.
In the upcoming days, there should be additional transactions as the Mets attempt to construct the rosters for their various affiliates prior to their respective Opening Days. Check back with MMN for updates.
