The Mets announced a number of roster moves on Monday, including sending OF DJ Stewart and LHPs Joey Lucchesi And Matt Gage straight to Triple-A.
Stewart and Lucchesi opted for free agency, while Gage returns to Syracuse.
New York got lightning in a bottle with Stewart in 2023 after they signed him to a minor league contract in the offseason and promoted him to the majors in early July. In 58 games, the outfielder hit 11 home runs with an .839 OPS.
The Mets re-signed Stewart to a one-year deal, but he got off to a disappointing start in 2024. His struggles continued throughout the summer and he was eventually optioned to Triple-A after New York traded for Jesse Winker. In 74 games, Stewart slashed .177/.325/.297 with five home runs.
Lucchesi started twice for the Mets in 2024, including the final game of the regular season, and went 0-2 with a 5.23 ERA. The 31-year-old spent three seasons in New York but was used sporadically, appearing in 22 games (19 starts). The southpaw went 5-6 with a 3.78 ERA through 95.1 innings after starting his career with the San Diego Padres.
Additionally, the Mets also reinstated the RHPs Paul Blackbrand, Sean Reid Foley And Christian Scott as well as INF Ronny Mauricio from the 60-day IL.
Blackburn, Reid-Foley and Scott all pitched for the Mets at various points in the 2024 season, while Mauricio was out all year recovering from a torn ACL.
