MLB notes: New York Mets will cut ties with former ace Matt Harvey

The New York Mets are cutting ties with former ace Matt Harvey. General manager Sandy Alderson said Friday that the 29-year-old right-hander refused a minor league assignment and will be designated for assignment Saturday.

After Harvey is designated, the Mets have seven days to trade him or release him. Because of Harvey’s $5,625,000 salary, a trade may be difficult to work out unless the Mets agree to send cash as part of a deal.

Harvey is 0-2 with a 7.00 ERA in four starts and four relief appearances. Since losing his rotation spot, he has a 10.50 ERA in four relief appearances.

“We’ve tried to find some other solution over a fairly long period of time,” Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said before Friday night’s game against Colorado. “This was a long time coming. This is not someone who hasn’t pitched well recently. So I mean this is something we’ve tried to address, we’ve struggled with, we’ve wrestled with over two managerial regimes.”

He started the All-Star Game at Citi Field in 2013 and was 9-5 with a 2.27 ERA when he tore an elbow ligament, which led to Tommy John surgery.

He returned in 2015 and went 13-8 with a 2.27 ERA as the Mets reached the World Series for the first time since 1986. But he slumped the following year and had surgery to correct Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.

Braves bring up Bautista

The Atlanta Braves have taken over the contract of Jose Bautista from triple-A Gwinnett, making the former Toronto slugger their starting third baseman.

Bautista will bat fifth in Friday’s game against San Francisco. Atlanta will make a corresponding move to make room for him on the 25-man roster.

Bautista, a six-time All-Star outfielder, has moved to a position he’s played sparingly in a 14-year career. But the Braves, winners of five straight to move atop the NL East, planned to use Bautista at third when they signed him to a minor-league deal on April 18.

Atlanta is set in the outfield with Ender Inciarte, Nick Markakis and phenom Ronald Acuna Jr.

Etc.

The Detroit Tigers placed designated hitter Miguel Cabrera on the disabled list because of a right hamstring strain before Friday night’s game against the Kansas City Royals. Cabrera had missed three games with a biceps spasm when he returned to the lineup for Thursday’s series opener. Detroit recalled catcher Grayson Greiner from triple-A Toledo to fill his roster spot.