Mets shake things up with surprising roster move before Cardinals series

The New York Mets entered Thursday with a solid record of 11 wins and 7 losses, positioning them atop the NL East. This promising start comes despite back-to-back defeats at the hands of the Minnesota Twins. Now, as they open a four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals, the New York club aims to regain its momentum and return to winning form.

Injuries have been a recurring challenge for the Mets early this season, particularly affecting their pitching rotation. Nevertheless, the team has managed to post an impressive 2.38 ERA, the best in all of Major League Baseball. Unfortunately for the Queens-based franchise, the injured list continues to grow, with Thursday bringing particularly discouraging news that impacts the starting lineup.

During a game against the Athletics last Saturday, center fielder José Siri exited the field after striking his leg with a foul ball. On Thursday, the Mets confirmed that Siri had been diagnosed with a fractured left tibia and was placed on the 10-day injured list. This setback constitutes a major loss for the team’s outfield defense and speed on the bases.

Mets announce roster moves in response to injury

“We’ve selected outfielder José Azócar to the Major League roster,” the team announced via its official X account. “Outfielder José Siri has been placed on the 10-Day IL with a left tibia fracture, and RHP Max Kranick has been recalled from Triple-A. We have optioned RHP Justin Hagenman to Triple-A following yesterday’s game.” These moves reflect the club’s immediate response to Siri’s absence, aiming to reinforce both the outfield and the bullpen.

Siri’s absence and options for center field

Siri was one of the Mets’ offseason acquisitions, brought in to stabilize the center field position with his speed and elite defensive range, even though his career OPS+ of 87 remains below league average offensively. His absence now compels the team to determine who will assume the bulk of center field duties during his recovery.

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José Azócar, the player promoted to take Siri’s spot on the roster, brings some experience to the position, having appeared in 63 MLB games as a center fielder over three seasons. Still, the drop-off in both range and speed presents a considerable challenge for the Mets, who will need to find internal solutions to stay competitive and preserve their lead in the NL East.