Mets let Rene Rivera go to Cubs on waiver claim

Less than twenty-four hours after making the trade of Curtis Granderson to the Dodgers official, the Mets announced today that Rene Rivera is on his way to the Cubs on a waiver claim. With that, the Mets merely get a small bit of salary relief, as Rivera was making just $1.75 million this year, only $1.25 million above the league minimum.

Signed by the Mets shortly before the 2016 season began, Rivera’s bat was not his strength. In 394 plate appearances for the Mets, he hit just .226/.285/.365 with 14 home runs and a 72 OPS+. His defense behind the plate was praised and well-rated, and that carried him to a 0.8 bWAR and fWAR over the course of his time with the team.

To fill their active roster in the absence of Granderson and Rivera, the Mets called up catcher Kevin Plawecki and pitcher Tommy Milone, the latter of whom was on a rehab assignment for the past several weeks.