Mets outright Xzavion Curry to FCL affiliate ahead of Friday's game

What happened

The Mets outrighted right-hander Xzavion Curry to their Florida Complex League affiliate ahead of Friday's game against the Nationals, per MLB Trade Rumors' Charlie Wright. The move followed Wednesday's designation for assignment, itself a consequence of the club claiming left-hander Philip Abner off waivers from the Giants — a transaction reported two days prior.

Curry, who signed a minor-league deal with the Mets in May after opening the season in the Mexican League, is expected to reach free agency this winter, per the report.

Why it matters

The outright closes out a summer that was more revolving door than roster fixture for Curry. Per Charlie Wright, the 28-year-old was on and off the big-league roster several times throughout the season, and his most recent stint was brief even by those standards: one day in the majors, one appearance, and a rough exit. The Orioles tagged him for six earned runs over three innings, including four home runs.

That outing was the punctuation mark on a stint that, per the report, produced a 5.48 ERA across nine games with the Mets. It is the kind of line that makes a roster decision easy, even if the underlying role — a veteran arm available to absorb innings when a bullpen is running on fumes — has genuine organizational value.

Per Charlie Wright, the report raises the possibility that the Mets could pursue Curry again this offseason as a depth option behind what appears to be a youthful rotation taking shape. That is a possibility floated in the reporting, not a commitment from the club.

Where the club stands

The Mets sit at 73-87 (.456), fifth in the NL East and 20 games back in the division. They have been eliminated from both the division race and the Wild Card race, and enter the weekend on a two-game losing streak. The Wild Card ranking stands at 10th, 14.0 relative to the cut line — numbers that explain why September transactions here are about building depth for next year rather than chasing October.

With the postseason off the table, the final weekend in Washington carries a different kind of weight. Saturday's probable at Nationals Park is Jonah Tong against Connelly Early; Sunday lines up Sean Manaea against DJ Herz.

Those two starters are worth noting in the context of what Charlie Wright describes as a rotation picture taking shape for 2027. Per the report, Nolan McLean, Christian Scott, Zac Thornton, and Jonah Tong appear to be heading toward rotation spots next season, with Manaea rounding out the group. Kodai Senga, who has been serving as the team's closer recently, could also factor into those plans. McLean made his first start just two days ago following a collision with Jared Young — a return that adds a layer of uncertainty to his longer-term availability.

The front office picture is also shifting. The Mets added Derek Falvey, the former Twins president of baseball operations, in a senior baseball operations role — a hire reported earlier this week — which suggests the organizational planning around that 2027 rotation will have new voices involved.

What we don't know yet

Whether the Mets will actually pursue Curry on another minor-league deal this offseason is unconfirmed. The report raises it as a possibility, not a plan. It is also unclear whether Curry will accept an outright assignment or elect free agency immediately — the report states only that he is expected to reach free agency this winter.

Philip Abner's role on the active roster, and what his addition means for the bullpen's shape down the stretch, has not been detailed beyond the waiver claim itself.

What to watch

Curry's free-agent market this winter will be the next data point. Per Charlie Wright, he has worked in parts of six seasons across three organizations — a track record that tends to generate minor-league interest even when the ERA line isn't pretty. Whether that interest comes from New York again is the open question the report leaves on the table.

On the broader roster front, how the Mets deploy Senga — closer or rotation candidate — and how McLean's workload is managed through the end of the season will offer early signals about the 2027 planning that is clearly already underway.