Major League Baseball

Collins acknowledges Gee upset by move to Mets bullpen

Published Jun. 9, 2015 8:58 p.m. ET

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Terry Collins understands Dillon Gee's frustration at losing his place in the New York Mets' starting rotation.

"As I told Dillon, I don't expect him to like it, but he's got to accept it and move on," the Mets manager said before New York was no-hit by San Francisco Giants rookie Chris Heston on Tuesday night.

Gee returned from a strained right groin that sidelined him for a month and allowed seven runs -- three unearned -- in four-plus innings during a 7-3 loss at San Diego last Wednesday.

On Saturday, Collins told Gee he was being dropped from the Mets' rotation and New York was ending its brief experiment with a six-man rotation.

"I kind of felt like any value, if I had any at all before this, it's probably gone," Gee told reporters Saturday in Phoenix. "What am I going to do out of the `pen? I felt like there's really not a whole lot of good that comes from it."

Gee was 0-3 in six starts after going 7-8 last year and 12-11 in 2013. The 29-year-old right-hander is eligible for free agency after the 2016 season.

"Every guy on every team wants to do what they do best, and Dillon Gee is a starting pitcher. Every so often, things happen, and you have to adapt to them," Collins said. "Now he's got to help us win by coming out of the bullpen. The only way to get back in the rotation: pitch real good, and when there's an opening or there's a chance, you're going to be the guy that we go to."

Gee sounded as if he expects the Mets to explore trade possibilities.

"My biggest concern is that if there was any glimmer of value before this, I don't see how there would be any more when I get moved to the `pen -- the value trade-wise or value to the team," he told reporters Saturday.

Gee made his first relief appearance since May 4, 2011, and the fourth of his big league career, and allowed a home run to Joe Panik on his second pitch. Gee gave up three hits and the one run in 1 2-3 innings, raising his ERA to 4.50.

Jon Niese, who is 3-6 with a 4.43 ERA, also could become expendable if the Mets bring up Steven Matz, and the 24-year-old left-hander is successful. Matz is 6-4 with a 1.92 ERA in 11 starts and one relief appearance for Triple-A Las Vegas. He has 75 strikeouts and 27 walks in 74 1-3 innings.

"I hear it every day. Believe me, I hear it every day. Certainly, I'm very, very aware of what Steven Matz is doing in Las Vegas," Collins said. "I understand what's going on and how he's doing. We're all very happy for him."

Matz could join the Mets' three hard-throwing young right-handers -- Matt Harvey, NL Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard -- plus 42-year-old Bartolo Colon.

Injured catcher Travis d'Arnaud, out since breaking his right pinkie on April 19, caught back-to-back games for Las Vegas and the Mets said he is scheduled to rejoin the team Wednesday.

"If he flies all night, I have to be careful of those guys that do those red-eyes, so I might give him a day just to get back," Collins said. "But he'll be in there the next night."

Rookie catcher Kevin Plawecki was scratched from Tuesday's starting lineup because of dizziness, missing a start for the third time in four games. Plawecki has said his ailment is related to a viral infection, not his prior vertigo problem.

Second baseman Dilson Herrera, out since May 14 with a broken tip of his right middle finger, could be activated later this week.

Reliever Bobby Parnell, coming back from Tommy John surgery in April 2014, is 0-4 with a 12.46 ERA in 14 appearances during his minor league rehab assignment and has a .393 opponents' batting average.

New York said he will be with the Mets on Wednesday and will be activated in the next few days.

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