Bobby Abreu will replace Andrew Brown as a bat-off-the-bench for the Mets. Will the 40-year-old be able to produce at the major league level?
The Metsannounced this morning that they have optioned outfielder Andrew Brown to Triple-A Las Vegas after announcing yesterday that Bobby Abreu would be joining the major league squad. Abreu will likely assume a similar role as Brown, appearing mostly as a pinch-hitter. This demotion does not come as a major surprise, as Brown is currently sporting a slash line of .185/.233/.333 in 30 plate appearances.
Brown started his year in dramatic fashion, hitting a three-run home run in the first inning of the Mets' opener against the Nationals. Since then, though, he has done little to inspire confidence in his ability to produce for the team. Abreu, despite being out of Major League Baseball in 2013, has been hitting well for the 51s, posting a slash line of .395/.489/.579 in 45 plate appearances. Abreu's contract has an opt-out if he is not called up by April 30, so it makes sense to give him an opportunity now to show he can still produce at the major league level.
It is worth noting that this transaction leaves Josh Satin and Anthony Recker as the only right-handed bats on the Mets' bench. With Brown hitting so poorly, though, it is a low-risk move. If Abreu does not hit, the team is right back where it started and is free to try another option.