Mesoraco accepted a position in June as a volunteer assistant for the University of Pittsburgh baseball team, Kendall Rogers of D1Baseball.com reports.
Since refusing to accept a minor-league assignment last March while he was a member of the Mets organization, Mesoraco hasn't explored playing opportunities within or outside of affiliated ball. With the 32-year-old now getting into coaching, it appears safe to conclude that his playing days are over. A 2014 All-Star, Mesoraco spent parts of eight seasons in the big leagues with the Reds and Mets, slashing a collective .232/.309/.406 with 58 home runs in 1,574 plate appearances.
Mesoraco appears to be retired and doesn't appear on track to rejoin the Mets, even after they designated Travis d'Arnaud for assignment Sunday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
Mesoraco is officially on the restricted list after refusing a minor-league assignment. He would currently be the Mets' third option at catcher behind Wilson Ramos and Tomas Nido if he wanted to keep playing baseball. It's unclear at this point whether his stance would change should an injury to Ramos or Nido open up a roster spot, but even if that did happen, his long time away from the game would likely mean that he wouldn't be able to step right into a big-league job.
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Mets' Devin Mesoraco: Headed to restricted list
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Mesoraco will be placed on the restricted list after declining a minor-league assignment, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.
As expected, Mesoraco will shift to the restricted list after failing to make the Opening Day roster and refusing a minor-league assignment. He'll likely elect to retire following this latest development.
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Mets' Devin Mesoraco: May call it quits
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Mesoraco is expected to retire, Matt Ehalt of The Bergen Record reports.
The Mets, who informed Mesoraco over the weekend that he wouldn't be on their Opening Day roster, are expected to place the backstop on the restricted list, as he has no plans to accept his minor-league assignment (and the Mets don't want to release him). Should he call it quits, Mesoraco will end his career with a .232/.309/.406 triple-slash over parts of eight seasons.
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Mets' Devin Mesoraco: Status in limbo
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The Mets informed Mesoraco on Saturday that he wouldn't be included on their Opening Day roster, Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News reports.
Since the veteran catcher has no opt-out clause in his contract, the Mets may simply release him -- or even place him on the restricted list -- if he expresses no interest in a minor-league assignment. Mesoraco plans to contemplate his options and hope another team has a sudden need for extra depth behind the plate over the next few days.
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Mets' Devin Mesoraco: Seeking other opportunities
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Mesoraco exercised the upward mobility out in his contract Wednesday, Matt Ehalt of The Bergen Record reports.
Mesoraco, who is battling with Travis d'Arnaud for the backup catching job this spring, decided to seek out other possible opportunities with his roster spot far from guaranteed in New York. The veteran backstop will be made available to any team willing to add him to its 25-man roster. If no team wants Mesoraco, the Mets will retain control over him.
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Mets' Devin Mesoraco: Fighting for No. 2 job
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Mesoraco went 2-for-3 with two doubles, a run scored and an RBI in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.
The former Red is in camp on a minor-league deal, but he's in a battle with Travis d'Arnaud for the backup catcher job behind Wilson Ramos. Mesoraco is only 4-for-17 at the plate so far this spring, but three of his four hits (he also has a homer) have gone for extra bases, and he's been drawing rave reviews from Mets pitchers for his work behind the plate. The club could elect to have d'Arnaud begin the season on the injured list as he continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery to avoid making a tough roster decision.
Mesoraco signed a minor-league contract with the Mets on Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training.
The oft-injured catcher split time between the Reds and Mets last season, compiling a .221/.303/.398 slash line with 11 homers and 33 RBI. With Wilson Ramos in town, Mesoraco will have to battle with Travis d'Arnaud and Tomas Nido for backup catcher duties to start the season, further limiting his fantasy upside.
Mesoraco hit a three-run, pinch-hit home run in his lone at-bat in Thursday's win over Atlanta.
Mesoraco stepped in for Mets starter Jason Vargas in the seventh inning and knocked a three-run shot, extending his team's lead to 4-0. He's up to 11 home runs this season, his highest total since his 2014 All-Star campaign with Cincinnati.
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Mets' Devin Mesoraco: Returns from neck injury
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Mesorace (neck) returns to the starting lineup Friday in Washington.
Mesoraco has been out since Sept. 3 with neck discomfort. The Mets are carrying four catchers at the moment, so it's unclear how much playing time he'll receive over the final nine games of the season.
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Mets' Devin Mesoraco: Expects to return Friday
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Manager Mickey Callaway said Mesoraco (neck) will start Friday against the Nationals, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Mesoraco hasn't played since Sept. 3 due to neck discomfort. Prior to suffering the injury, the backstop hit .213/.295/.374 with 10 homers through 80 games with the Reds and Mets. He'll look to finish the season on a high note now that he's back to full health.
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Mets' Devin Mesoraco: Out at least one more week
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Mesoraco will miss at least one more week after receiving an epidural injection for his neck discomfort Friday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
Mesoraco has been battling the neck issue since late August. Previous reports suggested that the epidural could lead to him being shut down for the season, though now it appears that he still has a chance to return. The Mets have little reason to risk injury in a lost season, however, and with two other catchers on their expanded roster, they could well choose to shut him down.
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Mets' Devin Mesoraco: Potentially out for rest of 2018
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Mesoraco may require an epidural injection due to neck discomfort, which could sidelined him for the rest of the season, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Mesoraco exited Monday's contest against the Dodgers due to neck and back stiffness and would've been placed on the disabled list if not for the expansion of rosters this month, rendering that transaction useless. Since Aug. 23, he's been nursing a bulging disc issue in his neck, which forced him to miss about a week of action. The catcher will meet with doctors Thursday to determine whether he will require the injection. Either way, don't expect to see him play again for an extended period of time until he is no longer dealing with any discomfort.
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Mets' Devin Mesoraco: Could miss several days
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Mesoraco could miss several days with a sore neck and back, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Manager Mickey Callaway said that Mesoraco would "absolutely" be placed on the 10-day disabled list at a different time of the year, though the extended rosters mean that the team doesn't have to go that route and can still carry two other catchers. Kevin Plawecki and Tomas Nido will handle catching duties while Mesoraco remains unable to play.
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Mets' Devin Mesoraco: Exits game early
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Mesoraco left Monday's game against the Dodgers due to neck and back stiffness, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
It's unclear as to when exactly Mesoraco suffered the injury, but he's apparently dealing with both neck and back stiffness. He'll be listed as day-to-day until further evaluation. The 30-year-old went 1-for-2 prior to being removed from the ballgame.
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Mets' Devin Mesoraco: Back in Friday's lineup
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Mesoraco (neck) will catch and bat sixth against the Giants on Friday, Kerry Crowley of the Bay Area News Group reports.
Mesoraco hasn't played since Aug. 23 after suffering a neck sprain. It appears as though he's fully recovered heading into a three-game set with San Francisco.
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Mets' Devin Mesoraco: Dealing with neck sprain
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Mesoraco was diagnosed with a neck sprain and will require a few days off to recover, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
Mesoraco added that he doesn't expect to go on the DL, but that may become an option if he's still dealing with discomfort by the end of the weekend. Prior to Friday's game, the Mets recalled Tomas Nido from the minors in order to serve as Kevin Plawecki's backup while Mesoraco is sidelined.
