The Mets have once again acquired left-handed relief pitcher Richard Lovelady, as the team has claimed him on waivers from the Nationals and placed right-handed pitcher Justin Hagenman on the 60-day injured list with a rib fracture.
Since signing with the Mets in late June last year, Lovelady has been designated for assignment by the team four times. But he kept going unclaimed on waivers and returning until the most recent DFA in late January, which came to make room for the Mets’ signing of Vidal Bruján.
Since Lovelady is out of options, it’s entirely possible—likely, even—that he’ll be DFA’d again sometime in the near future. There are several left-handed relievers other than Brooks Raley in Mets camp, some of whom have a shot at making the Opening Day roster. And if Raley stays healthy, he figures to be joined by left-handed reliever A.J. Minter so long as his return from injury runs on time.
As for Hagenman, the injury news comes as something of a surprise. He had thrown 8.1 innings in spring training games with a 5.40 ERA and a 5.57 FIP. In his time in the big leagues with the Mets last year, he threw 23.2 innings with a 4.56 ERA and a 3.77 FIP. He has options remaining and very well could’ve started this year in Triple-A Syracuse anyway, but he won’t be eligible to return to major league action for a couple of months.
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