Life in Major League Baseball can be tough at times, especially when circumstances arise in which one least expects it. It may be one thing to be designated for assignment after a poor performance, but to be designated for assignment without even having any chance to show what one can do for an organization is on a totally different level.
That is exactly what has happened to former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Dylan Covey, as he was designated for assignment by the New York Mets on Thursday, per The Athletic's Will Sammon. With the recent addition of proven veteran reliever Ryne Stanek, the Mets needed to open a spot on their 40-man roster to fit him in, so Covey became the unfortunate casualty.
Former Phillies reliever Dylan Covey DFA’d after spending bizarre offseason with the Mets
This came as somewhat of a surprise since, after all, Covey was actually among the first free agents to sign a major league contract upon the conclusion of the 2024 World Series. He also just recently attended the Mets' relaunch of their Amazin' Day fan fest at Citi Field. Now, less than two weeks before spring training, he might be looking for a new job.
Covey had spent his previous two seasons in the Phillies organization when he was claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers in May of 2023. He went 1-3 with a solid 3.69 ERA with 16 walks and 27 strikeouts in 39 innings pitched over 28 appearances. More importantly, Covey posted a stellar 2.00 ERA while yielding just four earned runs in his final 15 games of the season for Philadelphia. In doing so, it gave him a decent shot at making their Opening Day roster in 2024.
However, an ill-timed shoulder injury during spring training ended up sidelining Covey for several months, taking away any chances of him securing a role with the Phillies last year. Nevertheless, he did still manage to impress in his minor league stint with Triple-A affiliate Lehigh Valley after returning from his injury. Covey posted a tidy 1.20 ERA and 1.07 WHIP, with three saves and 16 strikeouts in 15 innings over 15 relief appearances. That promising showing was what likely helped him land a big-league contract with the Mets when free agency opened up.
Now that Covey has been designated for assignment by the Mets, he will need to continue to search for that opportunity to pitch again in the majors. Whether that be with another team or his willingness to accept a minor league assignment in the Mets organization after going through waivers, Covey hopes to be back on the big stage in the near future.
More Phillies news from That Ball's Outta Here
manual