The Mets released Alex Carrillo and outrighted Guillo Zuniga to Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday, according to the team’s official transactions log. The two right-handers each cleared waivers after being designated for assignment on Tuesday, and Zuniga was retained as minor league depth while Carrillo was cut loose.
Zuniga is the more experienced of the duo, albeit with only 20 2/3 big league innings to Carrillo’ 4 2/3 frames in the Show. Most of Zuniga’s MLB playing time came when he posted a 5.09 ERA across 17 2/3 IP for the Angels in 2024, and he then pitched in the minors for the Phillies and Mariners last year without receiving a call-up. Seattle released Zuniga near the end of Spring Training and he then landed with the Mets on a minors contract, which resulted in a selection to the active roster last weekend and one appearance — Zuniga tossed a scoreless inning of relief in the Mets’ 7-6 win over the Braves on July 6.
Carrillo’s release comes almost exactly one year to the day that his contract was first selected to a big league roster, as the righty made his MLB debut on July 8, 2025. Carrillo’s time in the majors consisted of three games, 4 2/3 innings pitched, and an ugly 13.50 ERA due in large part to a disastrous showing (five runs in 1 1/3 frames) against the Reds last July 18, in what stands as Carrillo’s most recent Major League game.
Even with the constant roster churn at the back of the Mets’ bullpen, Carrillo didn’t get another look in the majors this year, though he didn’t do much to force the issue in Syrcause. Carrillo has a 5.57 ERA over 21 Triple-A innings, with an extraordinary 26 walks in that small sample size. While Carrillo has battled control problems in the past, the extreme nature of a 24.3% walk rate is hard to overlook.
It is possible Carrillo’s release may be related to an injury, as he hasn’t pitched for Syracuse in over a month even though he hasn’t appeared on the Triple-A injured list. Since injured players can’t be put on outright waivers, that could explain why the Mets have opted to cut ties with Carrillo entirely. A quick re-signing could be coming if this is indeed the case, or perhaps Carrillo is being released because he has a deal lined up with a team overseas.
