The New York Mets designated infielder Gabriel Arias for assignment on Monday, ending his short tenure with the club just 10 days after claiming him off waivers.
His 40-man roster spot will go to utility player Christopher Morel, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Syracuse.
Arias, 26, appeared in only two games for the Mets and went hitless in five plate appearances. The Venezuelan-born right-handed hitter had been claimed from the Cleveland Guardians on Aug. 7, shortly after Cleveland designated him for assignment to clear a roster spot for top prospect Angel Genao.
The move marks another setback in a career that once carried significant promise. Arias arrived in Cleveland as a key piece of the 2020 trade that sent pitcher Mike Clevinger to the San Diego Padres.
At the time, he was a well-regarded shortstop prospect who had ranked as high as No. 5 in the Guardians’ system and cracked Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects list. Scouts praised his strong arm, defensive range, and raw power potential after he signed with San Diego for a $1.9 million bonus as a 16-year-old.
In the majors, however, the bat never fully developed. Across parts of five seasons and more than 1,170 plate appearances—primarily with Cleveland—Arias has hit .218/.274/.358 with 30 home runs.
His career strikeout rate sits above 34 percent, and he has particularly struggled against left-handed pitching. While metrics suggest he remains a capable defender at multiple infield positions, the lack of consistent offense limited his role to a utility or bench player.
Arias is out of minor-league options. He now faces the waiver process again. If unclaimed, the Mets could outright him to Triple-A Syracuse, though his more than three years of major-league service time would allow him to reject the assignment and elect free agency.
Another club could also claim him, but that team would need to keep him on its 40-man roster.
For the Mets, who are playing out a lost season after trading several veterans at the deadline, the transaction reflects ongoing roster experimentation.
Morel, a former Marlins player who signed a minor-league deal with New York in July, offers similar right-handed power and versatility.
Arias’ path illustrates the gap that often exists between prospect hype and big-league production. Once viewed as a potential everyday contributor with tools to play shortstop and hit for power, he has become a journeyman seeking a consistent role.
Whether another organization sees untapped upside remains to be seen as he returns to the waiver wire.
