Mets Cut Ties With 1.77 ERA Minor League Reliever Dan Hammer

Hammer’s Brief Promotion and DFA

The Mets announced they have designated Dan Hammer for assignment, ending his short‑lived stint with the organization. Hammer was lifted from Triple‑A Syracuse just a day earlier but never took the mound for New York. He becomes the fifth player to be placed on waivers recently, joining Guillo Zuñiga, Alex Carrillo, Jared Oliva and Matt Seelinger. The move reflects a broader effort by the club to reshape its bullpen depth as the season progresses.

Statistical Snapshot of Hammer’s Triple‑A Work

Hammer, a 28‑year‑old right‑handed reliever, has yet to appear in a Major League game. The former Baltimore Orioles farmhand signed a minor‑league contract with the Mets in March and spent the early part of the year in Syracuse. In 17 games for the Triple‑A squad he logged a 1.77 ERA, striking out 21 batters over 20.1 innings while walking 17 hitters. Those numbers suggest a reliever who was performing well enough to earn a call‑up to the majors.

Recent Mets Roster Moves and Context

Interim manager Andy Green attributed the roster churn to the bullpen’s uneven workload. “You go through a season, you run into stretches where the bullpen is taxed,” Green said, highlighting how innings availability can swing dramatically. He described the “revolving carousel of one spot” as something that affects all clubs at different points in a season. Hammer’s removal fits into a pattern of frequent adjustments that other teams have also employed this year.

What This Means for the Mets’ Bullpen

The decision to cut Hammer may clear a spot for another minor‑league arm or a reliever ready to fill the vacant role. Since the Mets have already released five players, they appear eager to experiment with fresh options before locking them into the major‑league roster. This approach mirrors similar shuffles seen across the league as clubs balance depth and performance. Looking ahead, the Mets will likely keep a close eye on their relief corps as the stretch run intensifies.

Further Reading

For readers interested in other roster maneuvers across the league, check out this related story: MORE: How Rays turned Tim Beckham bust draft pick into Junior Caminero. The Rays’ ability to revamp a former draft pick into a key contributor shows how player development can reshape both bullpens and lineups. Keeping an eye on such transformations helps fans anticipate similar shifts in other organizations.