The Mets did not make a selection in Wednesday afternoon’s Rule 5 draft, but did lose a few prospects to other teams.
RHP Mike Vasilonce considered one of the Mets’ best pitchers, was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies, while LHP Nate Lavenderwho was seen as a potential big league bullpen option during 2024 spring training before suffering an injury, was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Mets had a chance to protect both Vasil and Lavender from this draft, but opted to use their available 40-man roster spots on other players.
Here’s a refresher on Rule 5 Draft procedures, from MLB.com:
Rule 5 Draft picks are assigned directly to the drafting club’s 26-man roster and must be placed on outright waivers to be removed from the 26-man roster in the following season. Should the player relinquish, he must be returned to his previous team for $50,000 and can only be dealt to the Minors if his original club does not wish to re-acquire him. A Rule 5 Draft pick can be placed on the Major League Injured List, but he must be active for at least 90 days to avoid being subject to the aforementioned roster restrictions in the next campaign.
“You never want to lose pitchers or any player in a Rule 5 draft,” said Mets president of baseball operations David Sterns. “There’s a long way to go between selecting a player and actually losing the player. That’s the reality, but look, those are two good pitchers. We certainly knew because of the unique circumstance with Nate and because of Nate’s pedigree Vasil that these were possibilities. That’s all part of the roster management puzzle we’re trying to solve.”
“We wish them the best at the same time and hope to get them back.”
Vasil, who was the Mets’ No. 21 overall pick according to SNY’s Joe DeMayo, struggled mightily with Triple-A Syracuse in 2024, pitching to a 6.04 ERA with a 1.54 WHIP in 29 appearances (27 starts). Vasil, 24, was originally an eighth-round pick of the Mets in 2021 but has seen his numbers deteriorate as he has risen through the ranks of the farm system.
According to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, Vasil could be moved by the Phillies in a trade.
Lavender, 24, was a 14th-round pick of the Mets in 2021, and he put up solid numbers as he worked his way up to Triple-A Syracuse in 2023. The southpaw had an outside chance to make the Mets’ roster at the to reach Opening Day. in 2024, but ultimately required the internal brace version of Tommy John surgery, which forced him to miss the entire season after undergoing the procedure in May.
Anthony DiComo of MLB.com notes that the Rays could opt to keep Lavender on the 60-day IL for the entire season, effectively stashing him for the 2026 season.
