Colin

Poche

The 31-year-old southpaw elected free agency from the Mets on Tuesday after being designated for assignment. After exploring the open market though, he made the decision that returning to the Mets on a minor league deal made the most sense for him. We should see him back with the big league club at some point before the summer is through.

Poche has opted to test the open market again rather than accept an outright assignment to Triple-A Syracuse. The 31-year-old lefty went unclaimed on waivers after being removed from New York’s 40-man roster over the weekend. It’s possible he winds up back with the club on a new minor league pact in the coming days, but he should be able to latch on somewhere as extra left-handed relief depth.

Poche allowed two runs and recorded only two outs on Saturday night against the Pirates in his New York debut. The 31-year-old southpaw has been removed from the Mets’ 40-man roster and figures to pass through waivers unclaimed.

Poche was signed to a minor-league contract back in May, and now he’ll have a chance to be a middle-inning help for the Mets’ bullpen. He takes the spot of Austin Warren, with Warren heading back to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

Poche provides the Mets with some badly-needed left-handed relief depth in the wake of season-ending injuries to A.J. Minter (lat) and Danny Young (elbow). The 31-year-old southpaw was jettisoned from the division-rival Nationals’ 40-man roster last week and subsequently went unclaimed on waivers after struggling to a bloated 11.42 ERA over 8 2/3 innings (13 appearances) this season. He’ll head to Triple-A Syracuse for now, but figures to join New York’s bullpen at some point soon.

The 31-year-old passed through waivers unclaimed after being designated for assignment earlier in the week, but instead of accepting the outright assignment to Triple-A Rochester, he’ll peddle his wares on the open market instead. Poche posted an 11.42 ERA, 2.54 WHIP and a 10/12 K/BB ratio over 8 2/3 innings during his time with the Nationals.

The 31-year-old hurler had struggled to an 11.42 ERA, 2.54 WHIP and a 10/12 K/BB ratio over 8 2/3 innings during his time with the Nationals. Andrew Chafin was signed to a one-year contract in a corresponding move to take his place in the Nationals’ bullpen.

Poche was in camp this spring as a non-roster invitee and appears to have made Washington’s season-opening bullpen after striking out eight batters over 4 2/3 innings of work. The 31-year-old southpaw has some high-leverage experience, but will presumably operate in middle relief for the Nationals.

It’s surprising to see Poche settle for a minor league deal, but he has a really easy path to making the weak Nationals pen, and perhaps he might even be added to the 40-man as soon as Josiah Gray and Mason Thompson go on the 60-day IL. Poche, 31, has a 3.63 ERA and a 230/78 K/BB in 208 1/3 innings over four big-league seasons, all with the Rays. He dealt with back and elbow problems while posting a 3.86 ERA in 37 1/3 innings last season.

The 30-year-old southpaw actually did a nice job for the Rays in 2024 — posting a 3.86 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and a 33/13 K/BB ratio over 37 1/3 innings. They must think that they can find someone else to do a similar job at a cheaper price than the $3.4 million that Poche was projected by MLBTradeRumors.com to earn via arbitration. He’s now one of the better left-handed relievers available on the open market.