The Mets are rebooting their outfield by summoning a long-ago prospect and giving up on an offseason acquisition.
New York on Friday announced it has purchased Carlos Gomez's contract from Triple-A Syracuse and designated Keon Broxton for assignment. The Mets also put Michael Conforto on the seven-day injured list with a concussion and recalled right-hander Paul Sewald from Syracuse.
Gomez, 33, returns to the team that originally signed him out of the Dominican Republic nearly 17 years ago. He made his major league debut with the Mets in 2007 but was traded to the Twins that winter in a package for Johan Santana and has since had stints with the Brewers, Rangers, Astros and Rays.
He signed a minor league deal with the Mets during spring training and has slashed .270/.329/.500 with six home runs in 35 games at Syracuse.
While the Mets are hoping to regain some past magic from Gomez, they'll also chalk up Broxton as one of the bigger busts of the offseason. New York acquired the 29-year-old from Milwaukee in January for Bobby Wahl, Adam Hill and Felix Valerio, but Broxton has had an abysmal start to the season with a staggering .371 OPS capping his .143/.208/.163 slash line.
Broxton hadn't started a game since May 5 and had only eight plate appearances this month.
“I’m not here to make excuses or anything,” Broxton told reporters Thursday, via Newsday. “I think everybody in this game knows it’s really hard to do, come off the bench and do it. Getting one (start) a week, if that. It’s definitely tough.
“I work hard every day and try to prepare myself every day like I’m playing. When I get in there, I try not to think that I haven’t had as many at-bats as everybody else or haven’t had regular playing time. I try to get in there and get good pitches and put a good swing on it.”
Now Broxton will likely be left to get back on track in the minors, either with the Mets if he clears waivers and accepts an assignment, or with another team that picks him up.
