Adam Rubin has a good source reporting the Mets have placed Nick Evans, Pat Misch and Luis Hernandez on waivers. All three players have 48 hours to either clear waivers or be claimed by another team.
The 29-year-old Pat Misch is likely to clear waivers after a mediocre at best spring training. He did a great job filling in for the Mets at the end of last season and posted solid numbers all around in the minors. Still a team is unlikely to waste a spot on the 40-man roster for Misch.
Misch also has the option to opt out of his contract if he clears waivers, although I don't see him exercising this option for a few reason. He already knows what to expect while pitching in Buffalo, and he also knows there are a lot of question marks dealing with the health of the major league pitching staff and he could find himself up on the big club at some point.
The one team who expressed interest in Hernandez has already acquired a similar type of player in Alberto Gonzalez so who knows if he will be claimed, but I am not going to spend any time at all worrying if an easily replaceable defensive specialist is lost through waivers.
The player I am most anxious about potentially losing is 25-year-old first baseman/outfielder Nick Evans. Evans is a former top prospect who has almost faded into irrelevance in the Mets organization because of a combination of age, no true position and other players in the organization overtaking him leaving no room for him.
This fade to irrelevance was not Evans's fault. Last year Evans did nothing but hit. He combined to hit .300 with 23 home runs with 80 RBI in just 125 games while putting up solid numbers in 26 at-bats in the majors.
This spring he received the most at-bats of any player on the Mets and hit well posting a .333 batting average and showing some modest power with a .420 slugging percentage.
The accumulation of his minor league career and a spring that was just good enough to open eyes is enough for me to believe a team is going to take a chance and claim him. I understand he had to be placed on waivers at some point if he wasn't going to make the opening day roster and that there just isn't a place for him, but it will sting if he goes somewhere else because he has a chance to become a solid regular.
Lucas Duda/Scott Hairston will now be your starting right fielder if Carlos Beltran is unable to go opening day.
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