In need of outfield reinforcements, the Houston Astros acquired Ben Gamel from the New York Mets on Tuesday, as announced by the team’s official account on X, formerly known as Twitter. To make room for Gamel on the 40-man roster, the Astros transferred starting pitcher J.P. France to the 60-day injured list.
The Mets had recently designated Gamel for assignment to clear space for the returning Starling Marte. Originally signed to a minor-league deal to cover for Marte’s injury, Gamel, now that Marte is back, was deemed surplus to requirements, allowing the Astros to claim him.
The Astros are addressing their own injury issues with Gamel’s addition. Kyle Tucker, recovering from a shin injury sustained on June 3, is still not close to returning to the big-league roster. Astros manager Joe Espada noted that Tucker hasn’t started running the bases yet, despite participating in batting practice and outfield drills.
Gamel, who can play both outfield corners, offers solid at-bats, as shown by his .400 on-base percentage and a 110 wRC+ in limited action with the Mets this season (30 plate appearances in 18 games). While it’s unclear how significant a role Gamel will play for the Astros, he will likely have the opportunity to contribute, given the team’s inconsistent outfield options.
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