Mets Claim Shawn Ross Off Waivers, Designate Joey Gerber for Assignment

The Mets made a two-step roster move on Sunday, claiming catcher Shawn Ross off waivers from the Pirates and, to create required 40-man space, designating right-hander Joey Gerber for assignment. The announcement underscores how quickly bullpen depth and catching options can be shuffled in season, especially when teams need to protect flexibility on the roster while responding to day-to-day needs.

In the transaction, New York added Ross through the waiver process, a path that typically means the player was available for claim and that the receiving club is willing to absorb him on its major league roster. For the Mets, the move indicates continued interest in adding or preserving catching depth, an area that can become pivotal late in the regular season as matchups tighten and teams manage workloads behind the plate.

To make room for the new acquisition, the Mets designated Gerber for assignment. Designation for assignment is the administrative step that removes a player from the 40-man roster while the team determines the next option, which can include trade or outright assignment to the minors if he clears waivers. Until that process runs its course, the player’s immediate big league status is in limbo, and the Mets are effectively betting on roster positioning rather than committing long term in the moment.

From the Pirates’ perspective, placing a catcher on waivers can be either a reflection of roster constraints or a report that the club sees more value elsewhere, whether that involves another backstop already in the system or an everyday need that can be addressed without tying up a 40-man spot. Waiver claims, however, can be unpredictable, and the Pirates will now have to adjust their own catching plan knowing Ross is no longer in their organization’s control.

The Mets’ decision also highlights how teams handle late-season 40-man management. With roster constraints in effect, clubs often make these moves in clusters, aiming to maximize the number of available players who fit short-term needs while also protecting longer-term depth. Whether the Mets’ catcher and pitching mix changes again soon will depend on what New York does after the DFA window for Gerber closes.

The next checkpoint for this story will come from what happens to Joey Gerber after his designation for assignment. If another team claims him, he would land elsewhere immediately; if he clears waivers, the Mets can decide whether to keep him in the organization via an outright assignment. For now, the Mets have both added Ross and created a roster opening, and the durability of that plan will be tested by how quickly the organization’s catching and pitching needs evolve.