Mets Designate Veteran Closer Kimbrel for Assignment, Promote Prospect Tong

The New York Mets have made a difficult decision, designating veteran closer Craig Kimbrel for assignment. Kimbrel, a decorated relief pitcher with 440 career saves, has struggled significantly this season, posting a 6.00 ERA in 14 appearances. His last outing saw him give up two runs in 2.2 innings against the Nationals, including a two-run homer.

Kimbrel joined the Mets on a minor league contract in January and was called up to the majors on April 11. Despite his extensive experience, his performance this year has not met expectations. He has a 2-2 record with a 6.00 ERA, 1 save, 10 earned runs, 16 hits, 3 home runs, 15 strikeouts, and 6 walks in 15 innings pitched. His batting average against is .286, and his WHIP is 1.47.

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This is really tough. He understands, and he's been very professional about it, but it wasn't an easy decision for me to have that conversation with him last night.

Manager Carlos Mendoza acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, stating it was not easy to talk to Kimbrel. However, the team needs to move forward. The Mets are also calling up 22-year-old prospect Jonah Tong, who is considered a top talent in their farm system. Tong will join the bullpen, likely as a long reliever, and is expected to be available for upcoming games. This move signals a shift in the team's strategy as they look to younger talent to solidify their relief corps.

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He's going to be in the bullpen. He'll probably be a long reliever, depending on how the game goes. At least today, tomorrow, he'll be in the bullpen.