Mets Acquire Richard Lovelady, Place Justin Hagenman on 60-Day Injured List

The New York Mets have added left-handed relief pitcher Richard Lovelady to their roster, claiming him off waivers from the Washington Nationals. This move comes alongside the unfortunate news that right-handed pitcher Justin Hagenman has been placed on the 60-day injured list due to a rib fracture.

Lovelady’s journey with the Mets has been anything but straightforward. Since joining the team in late June of last year, he has been designated for assignment four times, repeatedly going unclaimed and returning to the Mets each time. His most recent DFA occurred in late January, a move made to accommodate the signing of Vidal Bruján. Given that Lovelady is out of options, there’s a strong likelihood he could face another DFA in the near future as the Mets evaluate their bullpen options.

The Mets feature several left-handed relievers in camp, aside from Brooks Raley, who are vying for spots on the Opening Day roster. If Raley remains healthy, he is expected to be joined by A.J. Minter, provided his recovery from injury proceeds as planned.

In terms of Hagenman, the news of his rib injury is a surprise. The right-hander had pitched 8.1 innings during spring training, posting a 5.40 ERA and a 5.57 FIP. Last season, he logged 23.2 innings with the Mets, finishing with a 4.56 ERA and a 3.77 FIP. While he still has options remaining, allowing for a potential start in Triple-A Syracuse, his absence from the major league roster will extend for a couple of months.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.