Mets lose Jacob Rhame to Angels via waivers, place Ryley Gilliam on the 60-man player pool

Jacob Rhame, who was a regular in the Mets bullpen in 2018, saw his tenure in Queens come to an end, as he was claimed on waivers by the Los Angeles Angels today.

Rhame, acquired for Curtis Granderson at the 2017 trade deadline, saw quite a bit of action in the blue and orange, especially in 2018. He appeared in 44 games (47.2 innings) over three years as a Met—including 30 games during the 2018 campaign—and held a 6.23 ERA in Queens.

Rhame never truly found his footing, and his Mets career was highlighted by a rather tumultuous 2019 season. Although he only appeared in five games for the club, he made his mark by causing a benches clearing brawl in an April 23rd game between the Mets and Phillies, after he threw a pitch over Rhys Hoskins’ head. Rhame was subsequently suspended for two games, sent down to Triple-A, was called back up later in the season to serve his suspension, and eventually saw his season, and Mets career, end earlier than he wanted when he had ulnar nerve transposition surgery in August.

Rhame will be replaced by Ryley Gilliam on the 60-man player pool. A fifth round pick in 2018, Gilliam has flown through the minor league system, striking out basically everyone in his way. The former Clemson University closer posted K/9’s of 16.10, 13.50, 13.50, and 11.57 in Low-A, High-A, Double-A and Triple-A, respectively. Massive strikeout stuff aside, he has struggled in the upper minors, seeing his ERA balloon from the twos in Low and High-A to 4.34 in Double-A and 13.50 in Triple-A.

Gilliam is certainly a bit interesting due to the strikeouts, and he will compete for a depth role in 2020. Gilliam chatted with our Amazin’ Avenue Audio (The Show) hosts back in the original 2020 spring training in February.