Mets designate Michael Perez for assignment to open roster spot for Tylor Megill

The Mets have designated catcher Michael Pérez for assignment, according to their transactions log at MLB.com. The move opens a 40-man roster spot for righty Tylor Megill, who’d landed on the COVID-19 list earlier this week. Megill is on New York’s wild-card roster.

New York acquired Pérez from the Pirates in mid-July. The lefty-hitting backstop had been designated for assignment by Pittsburgh, and New York brought him aboard for cash considerations. He spent most of his tenure as upper-minors depth, appearing in just six major league games with the Mets. Over 17 contests at Triple-A Syracuse, the 30-year-old backstop hit .183/.231/.317.

Pérez has never been a great hitter. He’s appeared in each of the past five MLB seasons, suiting up with the Rays, Pirates and Mets. Over 591 plate appearances, he owns a .174/.244/.301 line with 15 homers and a 27.9% strikeout rate. That includes a rough .149/.214/.298 mark across 132 trips to the dish with Pittsburgh and New York this season.

The Mets will place Pérez on waivers in the next few days. He’s likely to go unclaimed and elect minor league free agency, as is his right as a player with three-plus years of major league service. He’s likely to be limited to minor league offers with invitations to big league spring training this offseason.