New York Mets News: Dillon Gee Designated For Assignment

By Kenneth Teape | Jun 15, 2015

New York Mets News: Veteran RHP Dillon Gee Has Been Designated For Assignment, Opening Up A Spot On The Mets’ Pitching Staff

May how quickly things change. Just last week the New York Mets were putting in place a six-man rotation to accommodate all of the starting pitchers they had. They quickly abandoned that idea, as Dillon Gee struggled in his turn. Gee was then placed on the bereavement list, but was given another start upon return on Sunday afternoon. Once again, things did not go well, as the Mets pulled out the victory but Gee struggled mightily. Well, the Mets seem to have had enough because they designated Gee for assignment.

According to ESPN.com, their sources said that was the plan for the veteran right hander. The performance Sunday afternoon was the last straw for the Mets, as Gee surrendered a career-high tying eight runs in only 3 ⅔ innings of work. That performance ballooned his ERA to 5.90 on the season.

Gee went off the rails quickly for the Mets, as he actually looked to be turning things around at the end of April. Prior to going on the DL, something Terry Collins apologized to Gee for because the Mets sent him on unnecessary rehab assignments, Gee was pitching extremely well. He put together a string of three strong starts, allowing two or less earned runs in each, dropping his ERA to 3.86. That seems like a far cry from where we are now though, as Gee has completely fell apart.

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While he obviously hasn’t been performing, he is not the sole reason for the letdown. Part of the blame needs to be placed on the Mets, who didn’t really have a concrete plan for Gee and it showed. The constant changing of his role and shuffling back and forth between them is something anyone would struggle to get on track doing. Also, most recently, the death of his grandmother couldn’t have helped, as that was the reason for him being on the bereavement list.

This season Gee is earning a reasonable $5.3 million, and has one year of arbitration remaining. The Mets now have one week to find a trade partner for him before they have to decide if they want to release him or place him on waivers. While the Mets tried throughout the offseason to move Gee, it would be surprising if no one comes and gets him now given the circumstances. It would not cost much, and Gee has shown in the past he is a capable back end of rotation arm.

In his place, Akeel Morris was recalled from Class A Port St. Lucie. It is unclear how long Morris will be with the major league team, but the Mets could definitely use the help after using so many arms against the Braves over the weekend and a series against the red-hot and heavy hitting Toronto Blue Jays.

With Gee now seemingly out of the picture, ESPN reports that the Mets do not plan on abandoning the “six-man light’ rotation. They will still use a spot starter on occasion to ensure their young pitchers are available at the end of the season. Steven Matz figures to be the next man in that role, and a call-up could be closer than people think, especially with rumors swirling that Noah Syndergaard will be moved to the bullpen.

So as it stands right now, the Mets will stick to their plan of using an extra starter here and there, it just will no longer be Gee in that role.

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