PORT ST. LUCIE — Mark Vientos was squeezed from his DH role in recent days, and Sunday he lost his roster spot.
The Mets optioned Vientos to Triple-A Syracuse to begin the season, three days after reaching agreement with J.D. Martinez on a one-year contract worth $12 million.
Martinez will spend at least the first 10 days of the season in the minor leagues building up, but Vientos still wasn’t deemed the right fit for the roster.
“As we looked at the roster construction, some of the matchups early in the season, we just thought this made the right sense both for [Vientos] from a playing time perspective and our team at the major league level,” president of baseball operations David Stearns said.
Ji Man Choi was also informed he won’t be on the roster, according to Stearns, and the veteran first baseman/DH has to decide whether he will accept a minor league assignment or become a free agent.
Zack Short, a versatile infielder, has been told he’s on the team.
DJ Stewart will head north with the club, but isn’t officially on the roster — the Mets are still monitoring who might become available from other camps before Thursday’s opener at Citi Field.
As for the bullpen, the Mets still have three relievers — Michael Tonkin, Sean Reid-Foley and Yohan Ramirez — for two spots.
