The New York Mets are turning to a familiar face for some help in the bullpen after another pitcher was sent down.
The team signed reliever Chris Devenski to a one-year MLB contract on Monday, just a week after he had been designated for assignment to clear room in the bullpen opted for free agency. As SNY.com reported, he will take the place of another struggling reliever who was sent down to Triple-A after a disastrous outing.
Mets Make Decision on ‘Up-And-Down’ Pitcher
The Mets freed up space for Devenski by optioning right-handed reliever Huascar Brazoban to Triple-A after he struggled on the mound in a loss to the San Diego Padres. Brazoban was in position to get out of a jam after starter Frankie Montas left in the bottom of the fifth inning, but was late breaking to cover first on a ground ball.
SNY noted that Brazoban is in an “up-and-down stretch,” allowing 14 runs across nine outings in June after a strong start to the year.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said it was a difficult decision to send Brazoban down, but said he could benefit from the chance to take a scripted approach.
“You hate to send a guy down, especially a guy who since Day 1 he’s been huge for us,” Mendoza said. “But we’re going to use this time to continue to build him for a potential role here, because we told him you’re going to be back here.
“The plan is for him to have more of a scripted throwing program where it’s like throwing 35 pitches, maybe three days off, and at the big-league level you’re not going to be able to to do that. That’s the plan with him.”
Chris Devenski Looking for Another Title
The 34-year-old Devenski said he is excited at the chance to return to the Mets, hoping to add another World Series title after winning one with the Houston Astros in 2017. He wants to add another win for his mother, who passed away while he was with the Los Angeles Angels in 2023.
âMy mom was sick. My mom was in the hospital for a long time, so I signed with Anaheim to be close to her,â he told the New York Daily News. âThat was a rough year. Iâd go see her in the mornings and then go play a game at Angel Stadium at night. I was doing that every day at home, trying to spend as much time since we knew my momâs time was limited. It was wild.â
Devenski added that he knows baseball can be difficult sometimes, but he is excited at the prospect of playing a meaningful role on a World Series contender.
âItâs a hard sport, the ups and downs can have you in some dark places sometimes,â he said. âBut if youâre able to come through it, you know, good things can happen if you believe.â
The Mets went into Tuesday’s game against the Padres with a 1.5-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East.
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