The Padres reassigned Locastro to minor-league camp Monday.
Locastro posted a 1.115 OPS over 13 at-bats in Cactus League play, but his career .228/.327/.337 slash line over 616 career MLB plate appearances was likely a bigger factor in the Padres' decision to cut him. Though the Padres' outfield picture remains unsettled beyond Fernando Tatis and Jurickson Profar at the corner spots, the team may be eager to let top prospect Jackson Merrill sink or swim in center field rather than handing regular starts at the position to a journeyman like Locastro. If he isn't granted a release, the 31-year-old Locastro will likely begin the season at Triple-A El Paso.
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Padres' Tim Locastro: Latches on with Friars as NRI
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Locastro signed a minor-league contract with the Padres on Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.
Given the dearth of outfield options on the Padres' roster, Locastro would seem to have a good chance of making the team and perhaps even playing a good amount. The speedy veteran is a career .228/.327/.337 hitter in 616 total major-league plate appearances and collected a .731 OPS in 43 games with the Mets last season.
Locastro elected to become a free agent Monday, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.
The speedy Locastro is a career .228/.327/.337 hitter in 616 total major-league plate appearances. He opted to test out free agency rather than accept the Mets' outright assignment.
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Mets' Tim Locastro: Lands on outright waivers
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The Mets placed Locastro on outright waivers Thursday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Locastro can become a free agent if he passes through waivers unclaimed. The 31-year-old outfielder showed pretty well in limited action this season with New York, but he's a career .228/.327/.337 hitter in 616 total major-league plate appearances.
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Mets' Tim Locastro: Hits second homer
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Locastro went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Sunday's 9-1 loss to the Phillies.
Locastro's homer was one of just two hits for the Mets in this contest. He's hit two long balls in each of his last four major-league seasons. The outfielder batted .232 with a .731 OPS, three RBI, 13 runs scored and six stolen bases over 67 plate appearances in the majors in 2023, once again filling a bench role when healthy.
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Mets' Tim Locastro: Gets start versus lefty
Rotowire
Locastro is starting in left field and batting ninth in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Mets, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Jeff McNeil is in right field while DJ Stewart sits out against lefty Braxton Garrett, opening up left field for Locastro. Locastro has actually been much better against righties (.883 OPS) than lefties (.610 OPS) this season, albeit in very limited samples.
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Mets' Tim Locastro: Activation coming soon
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Locastro (thumb) is hoping to be activated before Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader or ahead of Sunday's game against Atlanta, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Locastro initially landed on the injured list in mid-April with back spasms and was forced to miss multiple months after undergoing surgery in May to repair a torn right thumb. The 31-year-old went 3-for-19 with two runs scored during his rehab assignment.
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Mets' Tim Locastro: Activated, starting Game 2
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Locastro (thumb) was activated from the 60-day injured list and is starting in center field, batting ninth in Game 2 on Saturday versus Atlanta, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Locastro will make his return to the lineup for the first time since April following back spasms and a torn ligament in his thumb. The 31-year-old has gone hitless over seven major-league at-bats this season.
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Mets' Tim Locastro: Starts rehab assignment
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Locastro (thumb) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday.
Locastro had surgery to repair the torn UCL in his right thumb back in late May but is finally game-ready again. The utility player should be an option for the Mets' roster before the end of the month.
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Mets' Tim Locastro: Needs surgery for thumb tear
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Mets manager Buck Showalter announced Tuesday that Locastro will require surgery to repair the torn UCL in his right thumb, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Locastro suffered the injury last week, just as he was nearing the end of his recovery from a back issue. He has already been moved to the 60-day IL and there is currently no estimated timetable for his return.
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Mets' Tim Locastro: Transferred to 60-day IL
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The Mets transferred Locastro (back/thumb) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list Friday.
This move clears out a 40-man roster spot for Gary Sanchez, who is joining New York's major-league roster Friday. Locastro originally landed on the injured list April 17 due to a lingering back issue and then recently suffered a UCL sprain in his right thumb. The thumb injury could require surgery.
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Mets' Tim Locastro: Starting up rehab assignment
Rotowire
Locastro (back) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Single-A St. Lucie on Sunday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Since he's been on the 10-day injured list for just under two weeks due to back spasms, Locastro will presumably require only a few games in the minors to prove he's healthy. Whenever the Mets choose to activate him, Locastro will be deployed mostly as a pinch runner or late-inning defensive replacement.
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Mets' Tim Locastro: Placed on IL with back spasms
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Locastro was placed on the 10-day injured list by the Mets on Monday with back spasms, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Locastro will be out at least a week-plus while dealing with the back injury. Brett Baty has been officially recalled from Triple-A Syracuse as the corresponding transaction.
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Mets' Tim Locastro: Steals base in win
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Locastro pinch ran for Mark Canha in the ninth and stole his fourth base of the year Sunday in a win over the Athletics.
Locastro replaced Mark Canha on first base after he walked and took second for his second stolen base in as many days. The 30-year-old has garnered one start so far this year and is primarily being used as a late-game pinch-runner.
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Mets' Tim Locastro: Included on Opening Day roster
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The Mets selected Locastro's contract prior to Thursday's game in Miami.
Locastro's addition to the Opening Day roster was a foregone conclusion after his main competition for a reserve outfield role, Darin Ruf, was designated for assignment Monday. While all of Starling Marte, Mark Canha, Brandon Nimmo and Tommy Pham are healthy and available, Locastro doesn't project to receive many starts and will likely see most of his opportunities as a pinch runner and late-inning defensive replacement.
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Mets' Tim Locastro: Wins bench role
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Locastro will begin the season on the Mets' 26-man roster, beating out Darin Ruf for the final spot on the bench, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
Locastro offers a speed threat that none of the other contenders for the spot possesses, something that could end up being very useful for the Mets given the rule changes MLB made this offseason to boost basestealing. The 30-year-old's .227/.325/.331 career slash line isn't very appealing from a fantasy perspective, however. Locastro should primarily see action late in games as a defensive replacement and pinch runner.
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Mets' Tim Locastro: Goes yard Saturday
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Locastro went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.
Getting the start at DH and hitting leadoff, Locastro took Rafael Montero deep in the seventh inning for his first homer of the spring. The 30-year-old speedster has had a very good camp, going 13-for-38 (.342) with six steals in six attempts, and with Brandon Nimmo (ankle) suddenly looking iffy for Opening Day, the Mets might need more outfield depth early in the season, increasing Locastro's chances of landing a spot on the 26-man roster.
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Mets' Tim Locastro: Making noise on basepaths
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Locastro went 2-for-3 with two doubles, a run scored, two RBI and a stolen base in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.
The veteran reserve outfielder is 4-for-4 on steal attempts this spring while going 6-for-17 (.353) at the plate through nine spring appearances. Locastro is fighting for a spot on the Mets' bench this spring, but if he does make the 26-man roster he could have some fantasy appeal in deeper NL-only formats, as the speedster could exploit the new pickoff limitations and larger bases to become a late-game pest on the basepaths as a pinch runner and defensive replacement. The 30-year-old set a career high with 17 steals in 250 plate appearances for the Diamondbacks in 2019, and he's a career 39-for-44 on SB attempts in the majors.
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Mets' Tim Locastro: Lands deal with Mets
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Locastro agreed Monday with the Mets on a minor-league deal, Pat Ragazzo of SI.com reports.
After spending the 2022 season in the Yankees organization, Locastro will stick around in New York for the upcoming season, albeit in a different borough. The 30-year-old owns a lowly 82 wRC+ over 549 career MLB plate appearances, but he ranks among the fastest players in baseball and offers the ability to play all three outfield spots. He'll be attending spring training as a non-roster invitee, but Locastro could be in the mix to make the Mets' Opening Day squad as a pinch-running specialist and late-inning defensive replacement off the bench.
