Mets designate righty for assignment, make other moves

The Mets have made a series of roster moves, announcing they’ve designated right-hander Dennis Santana for assignment and placed Stephen Nogosek on the injured list. Jose Butto and Jimmy Yacobonis are on the way up from Triple-A.

Santana had struggled to a 7.04 ERA 7 2/3 innings for the Mets this season, striking out an impressive 28.6% of batters but walking 14.3% after being claimed off waivers from the Twins in March. Once a top prospect in the Dodgers system, Santana has bounced around the league via the waiver wire since his debut 2018, suiting up for three teams (and being claimed by two more but never appearing for them) and compiling a 5.22 ERA through 146 2/3 innings. He’d lost a couple of mph on his fastball this season too, as he saw that sit around 94 mph having touched 96-97 as recently as last season.

Nogosek goes on the IL after suffering a bone bruise on his right elbow. He exited the Mets’ game against Oakland on Friday after being hit by a comebacker. Nogosek had looked solid through 6 1/3 innings of relief for New York this year, striking out eight batters, walking three and giving up two earned runs. He’s operated as depth bullpen piece for the Mets since making his debut in 2019, pitching 38 innings over four seasons and working to a 4.26 ERA. His walk and strikeout rates have been a tick better than the league average, but he’s also been a little prone to the long ball.

With two vacant spots on the active roster, the Mets first recalled Butto from Triple-A. His only taste of the big leagues was a spot start for the team last year in which he was tagged for seven earned runs on four innings of work. The 25-year-old has put up strong numbers at the highest level of the minors, though, working to a 2.33 ERA over 46 1/3 innings at that level over the past two seasons.

Yacabonis has bounced around the league since making his debut for Orioles back in 2017. The 31-year-old has suited up for Baltimore, the Rays, Mariners and Marlins, working to a 6.03 ERA in 118 big league innings. He’s never had much success in the majors, but has put up nice numbers in Triple-A. At that level in 2022 he worked to a much more palatable 3.21 ERA for multiple teams.