Mets Designate Darin Ruf for Assignment
Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Mes have designated Darin Ruf for assignment and will purchase the contract of Tim Locastro for the last spot on their bench.
Ruf has struggled this spring after posting only a .413 OPS in 28 games for the Mets last season. The Mets traded 3B/1B J.D. Davis, LHP Thomas Szapucki, LHP Nick Zwack, and RHP Carson Seymour to the Giants for Ruf last year.
The Mets currently owe Ruf $3 million for this season and $250,000 for the buyout on his 2024 option.
Ruf showed no signs of the player the Mets traded for, even this spring. In 30 at-bats he hit .167 with a .498 OPS.
Ruf, 36, has been reportedly dealing with a wrist injury that has plagued him since he was traded to the Mets last summer. The Mets continued to voice their support for the veteran. Buck Showalter said he “expects him to get better as spring goes on” after he started spring 0-for-6 with four strikeouts.
Mets general manager Billy Eppler was noncommittal on Ruf’s roster status when asked on Saturday.
“We haven’t announced the Opening Day roster yet – we’ll announce that at 11:59 (a.m.) on Thursday, OK?”
The Mets ultimately made the best decision for their team, and will carry a player with a skill no other Met is as good at.
Locastro was the Mets best success story from spring training. The 30-year-old outfielder managed to hit and eventually steal his way to a roster spot.
Locastro batted .289/.396/.511 in 23 games. But the Mets aren’t keeping him on the roster for his ability to get on base. He is still a career .227 batter. Locastro’s value to the Mets will be his ability to steal bases.
He stole six bags this spring and is one of the better base stealers in the majors. Last season on the Yankees, Locastro reached base eight times (not counting home runs), he stole eight bases while only being caught twice.
The Mets may have showed their hand to this kind of roster implementation during the playoffs last season when they carried Terrance Gore on the roster.
To start the season, the Mets bench will be Locastro, Tomas Nido, Tommy Pham, and Luis Guillorme.
The post Mets Designate Darin Ruf for Assignment first appeared on Metsmerized Online.