The Mets designated outfielder/pinch-hitter Frank Catalanotto for assignment earlier this week, and instead of trying to hook on with another team, the 36-year-old is likely to call it a career, according to the NY Daily News.
“I don’t necessarily know that it came as a surprise – I wasn’t getting a chance to play much. I knew eventually it may happen, especially if I wasn’t helping the team out and producing,” said Catalanotto. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. Chances are this is the end of my career.”
In his prime, Catalanotto was a decent left-handed bat averaging a 113 OPS+ from 2001-06, and he provided average defense at first base and the corner outfield positions. He also played some second and third base at times in his career. This season with the Mets, he was merely a left-handed bat off the bench who didn’t hit. He managed only a 6 OPS+, and nobody was surprised when he was released.
There has been word that the Brewers might be interested in signing Catalanotto for minor league depth, but at this point in his career it seems unnecessary. For one thing, he was probably only hanging on with the Mets as a native New Yorker. It’s hard to blame him then for not wanting to move out to the middle of the country to play in the minor leagues.
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