The New York Mets are in a place nobody expected them to be at the end of May, as the blue and orange are in the final wild-card spot at 50-48.
With the renewed playoff hopes, president of baseball operations David Stearns has beefed up the blue and orange bullpen, which has resulted in some roster casualties, including former sixth-overall pick Tyler Jay, who lost his spot on the 40-man roster.
Jay had a brief stint with the Mets this season, pitching 4.2 innings across three appearances to a 7.71 ERA with 2.143 WHIP and three strikeouts. The Illinois native fared much better pitching for Triple-A Syracuse, pitching 41.1 innings across 23 appearances, one of which was a start, to a 2.40 ERA with a 1.016 WHIP and 30 strikeouts.
With Jay heading out the door after being designated for assignment, the blue and orange managed to get something in return for the 30-year-old in a deal with the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Mets have acquired TJ Shook
According to a post from the organization on X, the Mets acquired relief pitcher TJ Shook in exchange for Jay. Shook has been assigned to Double-A Binghamton.
The 26-year-old has never pitched above Double-A and has spent the season with the Brewers affiliate. Shook has pitched 64.1 innings across 17 appearances, 11 of which were starts, to a 4.90 ERA and 1.352 WHIP while striking out 77.
What does this mean for the Mets?
The acquisition of Shook is just a bonus prospect, with Jay already heading out the door. The 26-year-old pitched well at the Single-A level in the past and perhaps just needs a change of scenery to truly blossom in the upper levels of the minor leagues.
In addition, Stearns examined him closely during his time with Milwaukee and may have seen something that the outside eye doesn’t. Time will tell if Shook turns into anything, but with Jay exiting anyway due to roster constraints, getting something at all should be viewed as a big win.