Mets Cut Adrian Gonzalez 5 Months After Deal, Call Up 1B Dominic Smith

The New York Mets made some changes to their lineup over the weekend, starting with Adrian Gonzalez. 

Mets Release 1B Adrian Gonzalez

The team announced on Sunday night it had released the 36-year-old first baseman after its 2-0 home victory over the New York Yankees. The Mets acquired Gonzalez in January, after the Atlanta Braves released him shortly following a trade.

This season, Gonzalez has six home runs and 26 RBIs, and is hitting .237. The first baseman has now become stuck in a 1-for-19 hitting slump.

According to ESPN, Gonzalez is earning $21.5 million this year, the final one of the seven-year, $154 million contract he signed in 2011 with the Boston Red Sox. After that, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers and stayed there for over five seasons before landing with the Braves this offseason.

The Mets also said first baseman Dominic Smith would be called up from Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday, just as the team starts a 10-day road trip. The Mets also revealed catcher Jose Lobaton would be designated for assignment.

Finally, the Mets will also reportedly recall utility man Ty Kelly from Triple-A this week.

Smith, who will be 23 this week, was hitting 260 with two homers and 25 RBIs at Triple-A. The Mets could also reportedly play two outfielders on their roster at first base: Jose Bautista and Jay Bruce. 

The Mets (28-34, fourth in NL East) play the Braves in Atlanta on Tuesday. New York is 7.5 games behind first-place Washington in its division.

Article by Pablo Mena