NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 15: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Jed Lowrie #4 of the New York Mets in action during an intra squad game at Citi Field on July 15, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Jed Lowrie’s status has been a strange one since he joined the team last season.
The New York Mets are not having a great season and enter play Thursday with a 22-27 record. However, the team is still technically alive for a postseason berth.
One player who will not help over the final week of the season is Jed Lowrie. The veteran infielder has been a ghost for a Mets franchise that gave him a two-year, $20 million in 2019. He had a total of seven at-bats in his first season and has not made a single plate appearance in 2020.
So what is going on? We know Lowrie is dealing with a knee injury, but the team has not come out and said anything definitive on his status. It is clear that Lowrie will not play this year and all the Mets have to do is just say that.
The odd case of Jed Lowrie
The Mets have provided updates on Lowrie’s injuries, but not on his timetable for a return. Fans aren’t dumb and just want the team to admit they made a mistake in handing out the contract in the first place. Instead, reporters have to break the news from anonymous sources.
At this point it appears Lowrie’s MLB future is uncertain. He is 36 years old and has not played in over a year after being named to his first All-Star Game in 2018. That year saw Lowrie post a 4.4 WAR and earn his contract with the Mets.
The Mets never got to see what Lowrie could do and that is unfortunate for both sides. Lowrie taking in his $20 million should help make him feel better and may also have new Mets ownership looking at Brodie Van Wagenen and determining if he is the right man for the job. Not providing simple updates on Lowrie is not a great sign.