​The New York Mets have designated for assignment right-hander Dan Hammer, a former longtime Baltimore Orioles farmhand who had been promoted from Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday but did not appear in a game for the major-league club. Hammer, 28, had signed a minor league deal with the Mets in March and was called up yesterday but did not pitch before being DFA’d, according to MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo on X (formerly Twitter). This marks the fifth DFA by New York in a short span, following Guillo Zúniga, Alex Carrillo, Matt Seelinger and Jared Oliva, all of whom logged either zero or one appearance this season.
Mets interim manager Andy Green acknowledged the frustrations of managing a bullpen under heavy workloads during a season that has featured frequent shifts in arms. “You go through a season, you run into stretches where the bullpen is taxed,” Green told DiComo. “It comes in waves. You get stretches where you can’t get them enough innings, and then you get stretches where it’s like you can’t get them off the mound. This revolving carousel of one spot tends to happen to all teams at different points of time during the season.”
Hammer appeared in 17 games at Triple-A Syracuse, posting a 1.77 ERA with 21 strikeouts over 20.1 innings pitched. However, he also issued 17 walks in that stint, highlighting control issues that likely contributed to his limited MLB opportunities. His performance at Syracuse showed a strong strikeout rate but a high walk rate, a combination that can complicate a quick ascent to the majors.
A former fixture within the Orioles’ farm system, Hammer’s journey has included several updates and moves across organizations as he sought to establish himself in the big leagues. His frequent shifts and the Mets’ recent DFA activity reflect the volatility teams face as they navigate bullpen depth and roster construction in a demanding season.
As the Mets continue to evaluate and adjust their bullpen, the team’s front office will consider next steps for Hammer and the other pitchers affected by recent DFA decisions. The status of Hammer’s future in professional baseball remains open, with potential opportunities in the Mets’ organization if he clears waivers and signs a new assignment, or he could explore other avenues with different clubs if he becomes available. The Mets’ ongoing roster management decisions will likely be driven by performance, workload considerations, and the evolving needs of their pitching staff.