CHICAGO — Jose Siri’s tenure with the Mets as an active player was brief and disappointing.
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Try it freeThe 30-year-old outfielder, who arrived last winter with the expectation he would be part of a job share in center field, was designated for assignment on Wednesday as the club created roster space for Tyrone Taylor’s return from the injured list.
Taylor was in the starting lineup against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Siri owned a .292 OPS in 16 games for the Mets. He spent most of the season rehabbing from a fractured left tibia he sustained in April upon fouling a ball off his shin.
Siri, known throughout his career for his defense, heard boos at Citi Field last week after misplaying two balls in center field. Offensively, he went 2-for-32 (.067) for the team with 17 strikeouts.
“It got to the point where we were activating a right-handed hitter that plays pretty good defense and provides versatility and speed,” manager Carlos Mendoza said, referring to Taylor.
Mendoza indicated Taylor, Cedric Mullins and Brandon Nimmo are all possibilities for center field. Nimmo started his first game of the season in center on Tuesday.
Kodai Senga will remain in Port St. Lucie, Fla., following his live batting practice session earlier this week. Mendoza provided a lukewarm assessment of Senga’s outing, saying the right-hander was “just OK.”
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Most notably, Senga’s velocity was 93 mph — down a tick or two from where he is normally.
“It was hot and he felt the weather there, too,” Mendoza said. “That was part of the report we got from the pitching coaches, that the weather got to him a little bit and he got tired.”
Senga pitched to mixed results in two starts for Triple-A Syracuse after he agreed to a demotion, allowing him to work on his mechanics.
“He’s going to continue to throw,” Mendoza said. “He’s going to continue to keep throwing and then we’ll see where we are at.”
Brandon Sproat will start Friday’s series opener in Miami, according to Mendoza. The manager declined to officially name a starter for Saturday — Clay Holmes and Sean Manaea would appear to be the primary candidates.