Mets Shock Bullpen: Herget Cut, Conley Called Up
Mets Make Flurry of Roster Moves Before Game Against Marlins
What Happened Today?
The New York Mets shook up their pitching staff right before today’s game against the Miami Marlins. Think of it like a teacher switching up the lineup for a kickball game—some players go to the bench, new ones get called up, and one player gets sent home entirely.
Here are the four main moves the Mets made:
- Robert Stock Called up to START today’s game
- Jonathan Pintaro Sent down to Triple-A Syracuse (the minor leagues)
- Bryce Conley Added to the 40-man roster (first time in the big leagues!)
- Kevin Herget Designated for assignment (removed from the roster)
Important Callout: The Mets still need to clear one more spot on their 40-man roster to make everything official.
Meet the Players Involved
Robert Stock — Today’s Starting Pitcher
- Right-handed pitcher
- Spent 4 months on the injured list with a condition called arterial thoracic outlet syndrome (a blood vessel/nerve issue near the shoulder)
- Recently pitched well in the minors: 2.91 ERA in 21⅔ innings
- Expected to make just this one start before heading back down
Jonathan Pintaro — Sent to Triple-A
- Right-handed reliever
- Threw 43 pitches over 2 innings in yesterday’s game
- Has a 4.40 ERA in 14⅓ innings this season
- Has already gone up and down between majors and minors 6 times this year
- Will keep "shuttling" back and forth as needed
Bryce Conley — Major League Debut Waiting to Happen
- 31-year-old right-hander
- Never pitched in the majors before — this is his first call-up!
- Drafted in a late round by the Athletics in 2017
- Signed a minor league deal with the Mets in spring training
- Has thrown 91⅔ innings in Double-A and Triple-A this year
- Struggled with control and has an ERA near 6.00
- Likely here for just an appearance or two before being sent down again
Kevin Herget — The Quick Exit
- Right-handed reliever
- Contract was just selected YESTERDAY
- Pitched a perfect 9th inning yesterday (faced 3 batters, got 3 outs)
- Mets lost the game 6-2 anyway
- Now designated for assignment (DFA’d) — meaning he’s off the 40-man roster
- Has 7 days to be traded, claimed by another team, or sent to minors
- Has the right to choose free agency if he clears waivers (he’s been through this before)
Why All This Shuffling?
Baseball teams do this all the time, especially with relief pitchers. Here’s the simple version:
| Reason | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Fresh Arms | Pitchers get tired. Teams swap them out like changing batteries. |
| Spot Starts | Need a starter for one game? Call someone up, send them down after. |
| Roster Rules | Only 26 players allowed on the active roster. 40 on the "40-man." |
| Options | Some players can be sent down without permission. Others can’t. |
| Tryouts | Give a minor leaguer a taste of the big leagues (like Conley). |
Think of it like a revolving door — pitchers come in for a day or two, do a job, then go back to the minors so the next fresh arm can come up.
The Bigger Picture: Herget & Conley’s Stories
Kevin Herget — The "Quad-A" Veteran
- 31 years old, been with 5 different MLB teams
- Career MLB ERA: 4.13 in 56⅔ innings
- Great in Triple-A last year: 3.09 ERA, 26% strikeout rate, only 6% walk rate
- Not so great in MLB: Only 14.7% strikeout rate since 2024
- Reality: He’s a "Quad-A" guy — too good for Triple-A, not quite good enough to stick in the majors
- Likely outcome: Clears waivers, chooses free agency, signs somewhere else
Bryce Conley — The Long Road to The Show
- 10 years in the minors (drafted 2017)
- Reached Triple-A in 2022
- First big league camp with the Mets this spring
- Numbers aren’t pretty (near 6.00 ERA, control issues)
- But: He’s here! Even one inning in the majors = a dream come true
Step-by-Step: What Happens Next?
- Today: Robert Stock starts the game vs. Marlins
- Bullpen: Conley sits in the bullpen, ready if needed
- Next few days: Herget goes on waivers (other teams can claim him)
- If unclaimed: Herget can choose free agency or accept Triple-A assignment
- Soon: Conley likely gets sent down, another pitcher called up
- Ongoing: Pintaro keeps shuttling between Syracuse and New York
- Roster crunch: Mets must make one more 40-man move soon
Summary
The Mets are doing standard roster management — nothing crazy, just the constant churn of a 162-game season.
- Stock gets a spot start after coming back from injury
- Pintaro goes down to stay fresh
- Conley gets his first MLB call-up at age 31 (cool story!)
- Herget becomes the casualty — a veteran reliever who got one inning, did his job, and still got cut
It’s the circle of baseball life in the bullpen. Next week, it’ll be three different names.
FAQ
1. What does "designated for assignment" (DFA) mean?
It means the player is removed from the 40-man roster immediately. The team has 7 days to trade him, release him, or put him on waivers. If he clears waivers, he can be sent to the minors — but veterans like Herget can choose free agency instead.
2. Why would the Mets call up Conley if his minor league numbers are bad?
Sometimes teams need a warm body for a day or two. Conley has Triple-A experience, throws strikes (mostly), and the Mets know him from spring training. It’s a short-term bandaid, not a long-term solution.
3. What is "arterial thoracic outlet syndrome" (what Stock had)?
It’s a condition where blood vessels or nerves get compressed between the collarbone and first rib. For a pitcher, it can cause arm swelling, pain, numbness, or weakness. Surgery or rehab is usually needed. Stock missed 4 months — so his return is a big deal.
4. Why does Pintaro keep going up and down?
He has minor league options left, meaning the Mets can send him to Syracuse without risking losing him. He’s a "shuttle reliever" — valuable for eating innings when the bullpen is tired.
5. Does Herget getting DFA’d mean he’s bad?
Not at all. He’s actually very good at Triple-A. But MLB hitters are way better. His low strikeout rate in the majors means he relies on weak contact — which works in the minors but gets punished in the bigs. He’ll likely latch on with another team soon.
