Mets’ Former Pitcher Cuts Ties With New Team After Viral Infection Forces DFA

The New York Mets underwent some big roster changes before this season began and they appear to be paying off.

Though the baseball season is fewer than a dozen games in, the Mets have seized the top spot in the National League East division and appear well equipped to return to the playoffs after missing them last year.

But as the team adjusts to its new personnel, fans might want to check in on how some former players are faring.

All-Star closer Edwin Diaz leads the National League with four saves as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Pete Alonso has struggled to a .186 batting average with the Baltimore Orioles and Brandon Nimmo is leading the Texas Rangers with 14 hits so far.

Former New York Mets Starter Cuts Ties With Los Angeles Angels

Meanwhile, a pitcher who played for the Mets from 2021 to 2024, has cut ties with his latest team after becoming an unfortunate big-league roster casualty.

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Angels announced that Joey Lucchesi had cleared waivers, was outrighted to Triple-A and elected free agency as a result.

Mets fans will recall Lucchesi as part of a three-time trade that sent Endy Rodriguez and David Bednar to the Pittsburgh Pirates and Joe Musgrove to the San Diego Padres, among other personnel moves. Lucchesi landed in queens after three years with the Padres.

Lucchesi was a nine-game starter from the Mets in the 2023 campaign, when he maintained a 2.89 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 46.2 total innings. But he only made two starts in 2024 and left the Mets after that season.

New York Mets’ Former Trade Acquisition Cut From American League Team As Infection Forces Shuffle

Lucchesi served as a reliever for the San Francisco Giants last year, then joined the Angels for a brief stint before a roster shuffle pushed him off the big-league roster last week.

“Lucchesi was pushed off the roster after Sunday’s scheduled starter, Ryan Johnson, was scratched with a viral infection,” Anthony Franco wrote for MLB Trade Rumors. “The Halos tabbed prospect George Klassen for a spot start. They needed active and 40-man roster space to bring him up, leaving Lucchesi as a tough luck roster casualty.”

After eight years of big-league experience, it seems like Lucchesi could be reaching the end of his big-league opportunities. But as a free agent, he will be searching for a new opportunity that could lead to a return to the majors, though his brief stint with the Angels wasn’t very encouraging.

“Lucchesi allowed five of six hitters to reach in his season debut,” Franco added. “He followed up with a pair of scoreless outings but walked at least one batter in all of his appearances. He wound up issuing five free passes (four walks and a hit batter) across 2.1 innings.”

This article was originally published on Forbes.com