Former New York Mets Reliever Agrees To Deal with Rockies

This former New York Mets reliever made just 15 appearances in 2023 after his recovery from Tommy John surgery.

Former New York Mets pitcher John Curtiss has agreed to a deal with the Colorado Rockies, per MLB Trade Rumors.

Curtiss signed a minor-league deal with the Rockies that comes with an invitation to Major League Spring Training.

Curtiss was placed on waivers by the Mets in November, one of six players the team chose not to tender at the deadline to set their arbitration rolls for the offseason.

Along with Curtiss, the Mets waived outfielder Tim Locastro, along with pitchers Denyi Reyes, Bryce Montes de Oca, Elieser Hernández and Peyton Battenfield.

The right-hander spent two seasons with the Mets, but he spent all of 2022 on the team’s 60-day injured list as he recovered from Tommy John surgery, an injury he suffered while with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2021.

The Mets signed him to a two-year deal with the knowledge that he would not pitch in 2022, but hoping he might reclaim the steadiness he showed before the injury. In 2019, 2020 and 2021 he had a sub-4.00 ERA in 59 appearances with the Los Angeles Angels, the Tampa Bay Rays, the Miami Marlins and the Milwaukee Brewers.

With the Rays in 2020, he had 1.80 ERA in 17 games (three starts and went 3-0. He struck out 25 hitters in 25 innings.

But, Curtiss was on a yo-yo all season between the Mets and Triple-A Syracuse. He made 15 appearances with the Mets, never figured in a decision and had a 4.58 ERA. He struck out 16 in 19.2 innings.

Since he’s on a minor-league deal, he’ll be competing for a spot on the Rockies 40-man roster at minimum.