Mets shuffle bullpen options with Robert Stock recall, Bryce Conley 40-man selection

The Mets made a pair of synchronized roster moves on Sunday, shifting their pitching depth ahead of a key regular-season day. According to ’s Anthony DiComo (as relayed by MLB Trade Rumors), the club recalled right-hander Robert Stock to start against the Marlins, and optioned fellow right-hander Jonathan Pintaro to Triple-A in a corresponding change.

In the same transaction sequence, New York selected right-hander Bryce Conley to its 40-man roster. The selection required a corresponding move, and the Mets designated right-hander Kevin Herget for assignment to clear a spot. These are the kinds of transactions that can be quiet on the surface, but they often reveal how a front office is balancing short-term needs with longer-term roster planning.

Herget’s designation for assignment puts him on the clock under MLB’s roster rules. While an outright release or trade is always possible during a DFA period, the immediate operational point is that he is no longer part of the Mets’ active 40-man group. That frees space for Conley, who now has a direct path to appear for the big-league club without needing a separate roster spot maneuver later.

Conley’s selection to the 40-man roster indicates the Mets’ belief that he is closer to being a usable piece in the bullpen mix. The Mets have increasingly relied on flexible relief arms, and adding Conley to the 40-man helps prevent the organization from being forced into a rapid emergency call-up if roster needs change during the stretch run.

Stock’s recall, meanwhile, is tied to immediate game needs. The Mets’ plan, per the report, was to have Stock on the mound for that day’s contest versus Miami. Stock’s promotion also suggests the organization saw the match-up and availability window as the right time to slot him into the starting role, rather than wait for a later pitching turn or keep him exclusively in the minors.

To make room for Stock’s place on the pitching staff, the Mets optioned Pintaro to Triple-A. Optioning a player is often the cleanest way to manage a roster while keeping a player within the organization’s control. It also indicates the Mets view Pintaro as remaining within reach for future recalls, should bullpen usage or pitching matchups require adjustments.