The Mets introduced that they’ve claimed outfielder José Azocar off waivers from the Padres and optioned him to Triple-A. The Friars had designated him for project in latest days. Proper-hander Sean Reid-Foley has been transferred to the 60-day injured record to open up a 40-man roster spot.
Azocar, 28, has been with on the Padres’ roster for many of the previous three years, serving as a frequently-optioned speed-and-defense depth outfielder. His contract was chosen in April of 2022 and he has since been put into 214 video games, although solely despatched to the plate 397 instances.
Offensively, Azocar doesn’t deliver an excessive amount of to the desk. He has hit .243/.287/.322 in these plate appearances on the main league degree, with that manufacturing translating to a 74 wRC+. It’s a reasonably related story within the minors, as he has taken 438 journeys to the plate on the Triple-A degree for the reason that begin of 2023 with a line of .276/.309/.402. Within the inflated offensive atmosphere of the Pacific Coast League, that results in a wRC+ of simply 70.
However he can present worth elsewhere. He has simply over 1,000 innings within the outfield in his main league profession, taking part in all three slots on the grass. He’s only a bit above common within the eyes of Defensive Runs Saved, coming in at +2, however Outs Above Common offers him a stronger grade of +8. OAA is especially keen on his heart area work, with a +5 mark up the center.
Azocar is in his ultimate choice season, that means he could have much less roster flexibility subsequent 12 months. The Padres nudged him off their 40-man when Fernando Tatis Jr. got here off the 60-day IL, however the Mets will stash him at Syracuse in the intervening time. They at present have an outfield mixture of Brandon Nimmo, Harrison Bader, Jesse Winker, Starling Marte and Tyrone Taylor, with J.D. Martinez within the designated hitter slot.
A few of the guys in that group have notable harm histories, so Azocar can provide the membership some glove-first depth for the remainder of the 12 months. He has lower than two years of service time and might due to this fact be managed nicely into the longer term, however clinging to his roster spot will turn out to be tougher in the long term.
As for Reid-Foley, he has spent most of this season on the IL on account of proper shoulder points. He landed on the shelf on Opening Day on account of a proper shoulder impingement and was activated in late April. He was on the energetic roster for 2 months earlier than going again on the IL, once more on account of a shoulder impingement. This switch to the 60-day IL is a formality since he has already been out for longer than that, that means he may be reinstated every time he’s wholesome. Earlier this week, he wasn’t positive if he would be capable of return earlier than the top of the season, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com on X.
