NEW YORK -- Their rotation in tatters, the Mets on Sunday claimed left-handed starter Tommy Milone off waivers from the Brewers.
Milone, 30, posted a 6.43 ERA in six appearances this season with Milwaukee, going 1-0 with a 5.14 ERA in his three starts. A source said Milone is a candidate to replace Rafael Montero in the rotation as soon as Montero's next turn, though the date of that will depend upon when New York inserts suspended starter Matt Harvey back into their mix.
Over a seven-year career with the Nationals, A's, Twins and Brewers, Milone is 45-33 with a 4.21 ERA, mostly as a starting pitcher. His best season came in 2012, when he went 13-10 with a 3.74 mark in 31 starts for Oakland. A talent evaluator who has seen Milone recently called him a strike-thrower who "disrupts timing with his secondary" pitches: a curveball and changeup.
More than anything, Milone is capable of logging the type of innings the Mets desperately need. Injuries to Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz and Seth Lugo have sapped the team of its starting pitching depth, which ran seven deep in Spring Training. In addition, the team suspended Harvey three games on Sunday for a violation of team rules.
Though the Mets hope both Matz and Lugo can return by the end of May, they have been searching for depth starters capable of filling in for Montero, who allowed five runs in 3 2/3 innings his last time out. Unlike Doug Fister, Timothy Lincecum and other free agents who have not pitched this year, Milone is already stretched out and capable of delivering significant innings immediately.
Montero's next turn is scheduled for Wednesday, though New York could also slide Harvey back into the rotation in that spot. In any case, Milone stands a decent chance of pitching at some point next week.
Earlier Sunday, the Mets transferred Syndergaard to the 60-day disabled list to clear a 40-man roster spot for Milone.