David Stearns filling the Mets’ rotation hole with Paul Blackburn means that, for the time being, Jose Butto will stay in the bullpen.
Butto has been excellent in relief of late, with a 1.08 ERA since moving back to the bullpen at the start of July,but the Mets had kept him stretched out in anticipation of potentially going back to the rotation after Kodai Senga got hurt over the weekend.
That resulted in Butto pitching three innings in the Mets’ double-digit blowout win win over the Twins on Monday.
Though Stearns wouldn’t rule out Butto being used as a starter at some point this season when he spoke after the trade deadline Tuesday, the possibility appeared closed off for the time being.
“I think for now, what Jose provides is a Swiss Army knife,” Stearns said before the Mets defeated the Twins, 2-0. “He can be lengthened out, he can be shortened up, and so I think he provides [manager Carlos Mendoza] and our roster construction as a whole with a number of different options. But yes, for the moment, I think he’ll be in the bullpen moving forward.”
The Mets’ plan for Jesse Winker appears to be putting the newly acquired outfielder in right field — where he was slotted for a second straight game Tuesday — despite his barely having played there over the past five years.
Winker played seven innings in the field before being replaced by Tyrone Taylor, going 1-for-3 at the plate with a single and a strikeout.
“He’s comfortable, even though he hasn’t played there much,” Mendoza said of Winker’s defensive acumen in right. “He went out there [Monday] and did some early work with Antoan [Richardson, first base coach]. He looked fine yesterday and the more he plays there, I’m pretty sure the better he will feel.”
Francisco Alvarez missed a second straight game with a left shoulder issue, though Mendoza described him as “feeling better” compared to Monday night.
“Wanted to let him [go through] his pregame routine and all that,” Mendoza said. “But yeah, he’s a player for us. He’s feeling better.”
Luis Torrens started at catcher, going 0-for-3 at the plate.
After designating Josh Walker for assignment last week, the Mets dealt the relief pitcher to the Pirates for minor-league lefty Nicolas Carreno, The Post’s Jon Heyman reported.
Carreno, 18, has a 3.74 ERA in eight starts in the Dominican Summer League.