The New York Mets are set to designate veteran outfielder Austin Slater for assignment, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Slater was signed by the Mets in late April after being designated for assignment by the Miami Marlins. The 31-year-old outfielder has struggled to find consistency at the plate and is now facing the DFA process for the second time in a month.
Slater joined the Mets with high hopes after a brief stint with Miami, but his time in New York lasted only nine games. The Mets acquired him as a platoon bat, but he has seen just four plate appearances against right-handed pitching this season, managing two hits in those chances. Against left-handed pitching, Slater posted a dismal .444 OPS and struck out in 33.3% of his at-bats.
Slater’s limited offensive production has made his roster spot redundant with the emergence of Tyrone Taylor and A.J. Ewing as viable options. Ewing, in particular, has shown promise as an everyday outfielder, reducing the need for another right-handed bat in the bench mix. With limited defensive upside, Slater’s DFA was inevitable.
Slater’s journey to New York was anything but straightforward. He initially opted out of a minor league deal with the Detroit Tigers before signing with the Marlins in April. After 12 games in Miami, Slater was DFA’d and quickly signed with the Mets. Now, with another DFA looming, Slater could return to free agency if no club claims him on waivers.
The Mets are expected to make a decision on Slater within the next few days. If they do not find a trade partner, the outfielder could choose to forgo a minor league assignment and become a free agent. The move opens up a roster spot for the Mets, who are still juggling their outfield depth with Taylor, Ewing, and others in the mix.
Slater’s time with New York has been brief but indicative of a season filled with movement. With the trade deadline approaching, teams will be evaluating their needs, and the Mets may look to shift their outfield mix accordingly.
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