ATLANTA — Luis Guillorme wasn’t sure if the Mets would keep him for this season, but that didn’t lessen the sting when he found out he had been non-tendered by the club.
Now a member of the Braves, the backup infielder was asked Monday if he was upset with the Mets’ decision.
“You could say so,” Guillorme said at his locker at Truist Park before the Mets defeated his Braves, 8-7. “I have been there for so long. It’s just weird not being there. Especially getting that call you’re not coming back — it’s just weird.”
Luis Guillorme signed a one-year deal with the Braves in the offseason. USA TODAY Sports Guillorme, 29, appeared in 54 games for the Mets last season and produced a .224/.288/.327 slash line, backing up at second base, shortstop and third base.
But Guillorme appeared in only three games in September after returning from a right calf strain — the first sign to him his days with the club might be numbered.
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“New people wanted their guys,” Guillorme said, referring to president of baseball operations David Stearns. “And it was one of those things it could have gone either way. I could see it happen and see it not happen.”
After non-tendering Guillorme, the Mets signed Joey Wendle to a one-year contract worth $2 million to fill essentially the same role.
Guillorme received a one-year deal worth $1.1 million from the Braves.
“The past 11 years of my life I have known one thing and one thing only,” said Guillorme, who was drafted in the 10th round by the Mets in 2013. “And for the past six years I have been in the big leagues for the team, the same guys around me, same places. There is still an adjustment. It’s early on.”
Luis Guillorme spent the first six years of his MLB career with the Mets after they drafted him in 2013. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con Cole Sulser was selected from Triple-A Syracuse to give the Mets a fresh bullpen arm, and Yohan Ramirez was designated for assignment.
Ramirez, with the Mets’ bullpen thin, remained in Saturday’s game to pitch two innings against the Reds. He allowed five earned runs over that stretch in taking the loss.
Manager Carlos Mendoza said the team needed coverage in the bullpen with Julio Teheran set to start for the first time this season — and Ramirez wouldn’t have been ready.
Teheran was signed by the Mets last week after opting out from his contract in spring training with the Orioles.
The Braves celebrated the 50th anniversary of Hank Aaron hitting homer No. 715 to break Babe Ruth’s all-time record.
As part of the ceremony, fans carrying cutout displays numbered 1-715 aligned the field. Aaron finished his career with 755 homers — 45 of which were hit in 188 games against the Mets.
