Marcus Semien is back, but the Mets found a way to make the move easier to swallow: Zack Short is gone.
That’s the real headline here. Semien’s return from the injured list doesn’t exactly arrive with a wave of enthusiasm after what he’s given the Mets so far - a .214/.271/.341 line and what the source describes as maybe his worst defensive numbers as a second baseman in any season.
His hip injury had opened the door for more of the younger players, and the Mets used that stretch to get Brett Baty more time at second base while A.J. Ewing also got chances at his secondary spot away from center field.
Semien had originally been expected to miss more time than he actually did, and while he has been an ironman at points in his career, this is still not the kind of return that gets fans jumping out of their seats. The difference is that the Mets paired it with a move that makes the roster shuffle feel like an upgrade.
Short was the easy cut. He was just 1 for 14 with seven strikeouts and had been getting too many starts since being recalled.
If this is the end of his latest run on the major league roster, it won’t be much of a surprise. He had already been DFA’d once this season, cleared waivers, and returned to Triple-A.
Across his career, he’s a .169 hitter, and with the Mets he’s hit .089 in 28 total chances.
The frustration, according to the source, wasn’t only that Short was around - it was how often he was used. He was viewed as a depth option to cover injuries, but he still ended up starting all three games in the final weekend when a nagging injury to Bo Bichette finished the first half. He went hitless, and in the first game he was even lifted early for a pinch hitter.
That’s why replacing him is the move that gives Semien’s return some appeal. If the Mets are going to bring Semien back, at least they’re not doing it at Short’s expense. Short is likely to clear waivers again and head back to Syracuse, where he’ll wait alongside Vidal Brujan for another possible call-up.
Semien still has work to do if he wants to win over Mets fans. He has to check a lot of boxes, and the source makes clear that he hasn’t done much beyond saving Steve Cohen a few million dollars down the line.
But the roster picture around him has changed. Baty has earned more run with the way he’s swinging it, and Ewing could also see some second base work if Luis Robert Jr. returns.
The season, at this point, is about more than giving veterans endless rope. The Mets are trying to find out what they have and build trade value, and that’s the backdrop for Semien’s comeback.
There is one other wrinkle. When Semien first landed on the IL, Ronny Mauricio filled in.
If Mauricio had stayed in the majors in Semien’s place, the reaction might have been a lot louder. Even with his struggles, there are still people who would rather see what Mauricio can do at second base than watch Semien there.
And as the source puts it, that’s understandable.
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