The Mets are claiming reliever Jake Reed off waivers from the Rays, reports Anthony DiComo of MLB.com (Twitter link). Tampa Bay designated the right-hander for assignment over the weekend.
Reed’s time with the Rays was extremely brief, consisting of just a single appearance with Triple-A Durham. Prior to that, he’d spent some time with the Dodgers organization, signing a minor league deal and being selected to the big league roster in early July. Reed made six appearances with Los Angeles, working 5 1/3 innings of three-run ball before being designated for assignment. Tampa Bay plucked him off waivers but will lose him themselves just a week later.
This season, Reed has worked 22 1/3 innings of 5.24 ERA ball across three Triple-A affiliates. He was bombed in eight appearances with the Angels’ top affiliate in Salt Lake but pitched far better after signing with the Dodgers. Reed has punched out a solid 28.3% of batters faced at the level this season, while walking just 7.1% of opponents. He also still has all three minor league options years remaining, so the Mets can shuttle Reed back and forth between Queens and Triple-A Syracuse if he can stick on the 40-man roster.
