The New York Mets have announced that outfielder Tyrone Taylor is returning from the 10-day injured list, leading to the designation of outfielder Jose Siri for assignment. Will Sammon from The Athletic had initially reported Siri’s designation before the Mets’ official confirmation.
This situation arises after Siri was acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays during the offseason in exchange for right-hander Eric Orze. Unfortunately, this move hasn’t paid off as expected for the Mets, given Siri’s extended time on the injured list and lackluster performance when healthy. With Siri being out of options, he couldn’t be demoted to the minors easily. He has a $2.4 million contract this year and was likely facing a non-tender situation this offseason.
Siri showed potential with the Rays in 2023, hitting 25 home runs and demonstrating solid defensive and base-stealing abilities, earning him 2.6 wins above replacement according to FanGraphs. However, his offensive performance declined in 2024, and this season has seen further setbacks due to a fractured left tibia and subsequent underperformance, reflected in a meager .063/.167/.125 batting line in limited appearances.
While Taylor has also struggled this year, his performance surpasses that of Siri. The Mets also have veteran outfielder Cedric Mullins in center field, though his batting performance has also been underwhelming. Brandon Nimmo has seen some action in center, although he’s now returning to left field with Taylor taking the center position.
With the trade deadline long passed, the Mets are left to place Siri on waivers, anticipating little interest from other teams given his current form and ineligibility for postseason play. With arbitration control extending two more seasons, another team could claim him, looking ahead to 2026. Should Siri clear waivers, he may elect free agency at the cost of forfeiting a small remaining salary.
The possibility of contributing to a playoff run, coupled with avoiding a loss of salary, might persuade him to accept an assignment. As the Mets aim to solidify their outfield strategy before the postseason, Siri’s situation underlines the challenges of managing player performance and roster dynamics in a long baseball season.