The New York Mets are still trying to improve their roster for the 2021 season. The Jonathan Villar signing this week is proof of that, and although he doesn’t figure to have an everyday role right away, he is a veteran contributor that has some offensive potential and an uncanny ability to steal bases.
His presence as infield depth and as a potential option as a pinch-runner late in games (including extrainnings, where teams will once again start with a runner on second base) is very valuable for the Mets.
In order to make room for Villar on the 40-am roster, the New York Mets designated right-handed reliever Brad Brach for assignment.
When a player’s contract is designated for assignment — often abbreviated “DFA” – “that player is immediately removed from his club’s 40-man roster. Within seven days of the transaction (had been 10 days under the 2012-16 Collective Bargaining Agreement), the player can either be traded or placed on irrevocable outright waivers,†according to the explanation by the league.
The Mets will need to pay him anyway
According to NBC Edge, Brach, who had exercised his 2021 player option earlier in the offseason, will get that money without playing for the Mets.
Brach has been very successful in the past and even has some closer experience in his Orioles days, but he didn’t have a particularly good 2020 abbreviated season.
Last year, Brach struggled to the tune of a 5.84 ERA and 1.78 WHIP over 12 1/3 innings.
He should be able to find a new home eventually thanks largely to his past success.
In 496 games and a total of 522.2 innings, Brach has a very good 3.39 ERA and a 3.76 FIP, with a 25.1 K% and a 11.1 BB%. He has accumulated 4.7 fWAR so far in his career, and it would appear that he has thrown his last pitch with a Mets uniform.