Mets Designate Gee, Make Room for Matz
By Bill Pivetz
Mar 7, 2015; Jupiter, FL, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher
Steven Matz(32) delivers a pitch during a spring training baseball game against the Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Mets are the newest team on a list of teams to call up a top prospect before the All-Star break. Unfortunately, this move will come at the price of sending someone else to the minors. The announcement was made Monday afternoon that the Mets will designate Dillon Gee for assignment, making up for Triple-A prospect Steven Matz next month.
The move comes at the perfect time for the Mets. Despite sitting 0.5 games ahead of the Washington Nationals for first place in the NL East, their pitching staff has been horrible this month. In 13 June games, the Mets starting pitchers own a 4.30 ERA (24th) and 1.37 WHIP (25th) while allowing opposing teams to hit .276 (28th).
The main culprit is Gee himself. In three games, he has a 12.54 ERA, 2.68 WHIP and a 5:3 K:BB ratio. Noah Syndergaard and Matt Harvey aren’t doing better. Syndergaard and Harvey have a 9.90 and 6.23 ERA this month, respectively.
The Mets have been traveling with a six-man rotation for most of the season. Gee being sent down and talks of moving Syndergaard to the bullpen as a set-up man is clearly the plan to get Matz up to the show.
More from FanSided
- Joe Burrow owes Justin Herbert a thank you note after new contract
- Chiefs gamble at wide receiver could already be biting them back
- Braves-Red Sox start time: Braves rain delay in Boston on July 25
- Yankees: Aaron Boone gives optimistic return date for Aaron Judge
- MLB Rumors: Yankees-Phillies trade showdown, Mariners swoop, India goes to Seattle
Some owners are already stashing Matz for his eventual call up. He is currently owned in 9.6 percent of ESPN.com leagues, 5.6 percent more than last week, and with good reason.
This season with Triple-A Las Vegas, he is 6-4 with a 2.30 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 81:30 K:BB ratio in 78.1 innings. He has a 9.3 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 rate.
The date for Matz’s call up looks to be July 1. With a couple of more starts left in Triple-A, he should be ready as the Mets’ No. 5 starter by the mid-season break. If you need to get an edge on your opponents in the pitching category, Matz is your guy.
This is only the beginning for the New York Matz.