The Mets did not make any selections in Wednesday afternoon’s Rule 5 draft, but they did lose a pair of prospects to other teams.
RHP Mike Vasil, once considered one of the Mets’ top pitching prospects, was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies, while LHP Nate Lavender, who was looked at as a potential big league bullpen option during 2024 spring training before getting hurt, was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Mets had a chance to protect both Vasil and Lavender from this draft, but elected to use their available 40-man roster spots on other players.
Vasil, who was the Mets’ No. 21 prospect according to SNY’s Joe DeMayo, struggled mightily in 2024 with Triple-A Syracuse, pitching to a 6.04 ERA with a 1.54 WHIP in 29 appearances (27 starts). Originally an eighth-round pick of the Mets in 2021, Vasil, 24, has seen his numbers get progressively worse as he’s made his way up the farm system ranks.
According to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, Vasil could be moved by the Phillies in a trade.
Lavender, 24, was a 14th-round pick of the Mets in 2021, and he put up solid numbers as he worked his way up to Triple-A Syracuse in 2023. The lefty had an outside shot of making the Mets’ Opening Day roster in 2024, but he ended up needing the internal brace version of Tommy John surgery, causing him to miss the entire season after undergoing the procedure in May.
MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo notes that the Rays could elect to keep Lavender on the 60-day IL all season long, effectively stashing him for the 2026 season.