The New York Mets have claimed reliever Sam Coonrod off of waivers, according to the MLB transactions log.
Outfielder Khalil Lee — currently under investigation by Major League Baseball for physical and verbal abuse of his former girlfriend — has been designated for assignment by the Mets.
Coonrod had been designated for assignment last week to make room on the 40-man roster for veteran infielder Josh Harrison, who joined the Phillies on a $2 million deal in late January.
After being acquired in a trade from the San Francisco Giants in January of 2021, Coonrod posted a 4.04 ERA and 3.71 FIP across 42 games that season, at times flashing elite potential for a bullpen in desperate need of impact arms:
However, 2022 essentially turned into a lost season for Coonrod. A right shoulder strain prevented Coonrod from making his season debut until August, and he ultimately posted a 7.82 ERA in 12 appearances before being optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Now 30, Coonrod will join a Mets team that is coming off of winning 101 games a season ago and is hoping to leapfrog the Atlanta Braves — while fending off the Phillies — in the National League East.
Coonrod is the second former Phillies reliever to be acquired by the Mets this offseason, as David Robertson inked a one-year/$10 million deal in December.