Rico Garcia might have to re-fill his MetroCard.
The appropriate-handed reliever had already bounced between the Mets and Yankees this season, and he’s now heading back to Flushing Meadows for a second stint with the Mets, who picked him up off waivers on Monday.
Garcia, 31, signed a minor-league cope with the Mets within the offseason and started the yr with Triple-A Syracuse, before joining the big-league club for a temporary stretch in early July, when he twirled 4 2/3 scoreless innings across two appearances.
He was designated for task soon after, and the Yankees picked him up off waivers over the All-Star break.
Just days later, he was back on waivers after surrendering three earned runs in 2 2/3 innings in Friday’s 7-3 loss to the Braves, and he’s now a Met once more.
The 31-year-old Garcia, a journeyman in his fifth MLB season, has grinded out a professional baseball profession after getting picked by the Rockies within the thirtieth round of the 2016 draft out of Hawaii Pacific University.
Besides the Mets and Yankees, he has also hung out with the Nationals, Athletics, Orioles, Giants and Rockies, although he has only pitched a complete of 43 big-league innings across his profession.
Most of his time has been spent within the minors, and he holds a 3.63 ERA in his minor-league profession.
In his stint with Syracuse earlier this season, Garcia notched a 4.45 ERA in 30.1 innings across 24 appearances.
The Honolulu native will likely play a job within the Mets bullpen for the immediate future, especially with relievers A.J. Minter (lat), Danny Young (elbow), Drew Smith (elbow), Dedniel Núñez (elbow), Max Kranick (elbow) and José Buttó (illness) all currently sidelined.
Garcia’s long-term outlook with the team is uncertain, though, with the Mets prone to acquire relief pitching on the July 31 trade deadline.
