By Steven Inman
The Mets appear to be heading towards a 40-man roster crunch and seem to be taking the initiative in trying to find ways to open a few spots. One spot will likely be opened by removing former 1st round pick Reese Havens off the 40-man roster. Havens, 26, has missed an absurd amount of games due to injuries over the past few years and hasn’t been able to crack over 100 games in a minor league season since being drafted in 2008 by the Mets in the first round just a few spots behind Ike Davis. Davis is about to start his fourth season in the big leagues.
Havens has a ton of potential
but hit very poorly in double A Binghamton when he was on the field last year. He has power, hits lefties and can play a good second base but he just can’t get past his injuries. “I bent down to pick up a shirt off the ground and threw my back out, crazy stuff like that.” Havens told the New York Post.
The Mets may need to open up 4 or 5 roster spots for many players like Marlon Byrd and LaTroy Hawkins. The Mets showed last year that they aren’t willing to give prospects a million chances when they designated Fernando Martinez for assignment last spring. Martinez, 24, spent the year with the Astros and received mixed results in the majors.
If the Mets keep Havens he will go to double A or Triple A as a type of last chance scenario. Time is running out for Havens to have successful career with the Mets, if his time hasn’t run out already.
Hi Steve – As a long time Mets fan, I am enjoying your blog articles. I would hate to see the Mets lose Reese Havens this way but, the present needs of the team must come first. I guess that the Mets didn’t see this coming or they would have traded Havens during the off season or, perhaps they tried to but there were no takers.
Mike thanks so much for the feedback you have no idea what it means to me. In regards to Havens I think it would be different if they just needed to clear 1 or two spots but they may need up to 5. If they need that many than Havens is a goner. I don’t think the Mets expected to get this many veterans like Byrd, Hawkins, Atchison etc without giving up 40-man roster spots and it may costs them at the end of March.