The Mets named the catcher/outfielder Cooper Hummel For assignment, as first mentioned By Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. The Mets announced the move a few minutes later. Hammel's spot on the 40-man roster will go to the right Max Kranikwhich the Mets claim off waivers from the Pirates.
Hummel, 29, was claimed off waivers from the Mariners earlier this season. He appeared in 10 MLB games last year and came to the plate 26 times with Seattle. He also received a quick look with the D-backs in 2022, and has posted an overall line of .166/.264/.286 in 227 career plate appearances.
Despite the ugliness of that small-sample slash line, Hammel turned in a .262/.409/.435 batting line in Triple-A last year and drew innings at a whopping 18% clip. The Mets were certainly drawn to this production and his versatility. He logged more than 1,800 innings in left field, 1,054 frames behind the plate, 508 innings at first base and another 296 innings in right field. Add to that the fact that he has a minor league option remaining, and he's an interesting depth player even if he's not yet able to produce at the big league level.
Hummel is also a known commodity to Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns, who was the Brewers' general manager in 2016 when Hummel was drafted by Milwaukee. Stearns traded Hummel to D-linebacker in 2021 Eduardo Escobar Trade, and he will now have a week to trade Hammill back or try to pass him through outright waivers.
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