Cecchini was released by the Diamondbacks on Friday, JJ Cooper of Baseball America reports.
The 26-year-old second baseman was once a prospect of note in the Mets' system and joined Arizona on a minors pact this past offseason. He hasn't played in the majors since 2017.
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Diamondbacks' Gavin Cecchini: Reaches MiLB deal with Arizona
Rotowire
Cecchini signed a minor-league contract with the Diamondbacks on Monday.
Arizona has already assigned Cecchini to Triple-A Reno, so it doesn't sound like he'll get the opportunity to compete for a bench role with the big club in spring training. Once a prospect of some repute while coming up through the Mets' farm system, the 26-year-old represents little more than organizational infield depth at this stage of his career. He hasn't appeared in the majors since 2017 and slashed just .248/.305/.344 in the minors last season, with most of his action coming at the Double-A level.
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Mets' Gavin Cecchini: Assigned to minors
Rotowire
Cecchini cleared waivers Friday and was assigned to Triple-A Syracuse.
Cecchini was designated for assignment earlier in the week when the Mets signed Justin Wilson. His .294/.342/.468 line in 30 games for Triple-A Las Vegas last season was evidently not enough for another team to take a chance on him.
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Mets' Gavin Cecchini: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Cecchini was designated for assignment by the Mets on Monday, Matt Ehalt of The Bergen Record reports.
The 2012 first-round pick was replaced on the 40-man roster by reliever Justin Wilson. Cecchini spent most of 2018 with Triple-A Las Vegas, hitting .294/.342/.468. The 25-year-old owns a lackluster .217/.270/.301 triple-slash across parts of two big-league campaigns (36 games).
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Mets' Gavin Cecchini: Sidelined with foot injury
Rotowire
Cecchini hasn't played in any games for Triple-A Las Vegas since May 9 due to a foot injury, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Cecchini was optioned to Las Vegas out of spring training due to the Mets' ample infield depth, but he likely would have received the call to the big leagues at some point in the last month if he had been healthy. With Wilmer Flores (back) and T.J. Rivera (elbow) both having spent time on the disabled list and Jose Reyes batting a woeful .149/.213/.203 on the season, Luis Guillorme has settled in as the primary utility infield for the Mets over the last few weeks. While Guillorme boasts a capable glove, his .450 OPS barely amounts to an upgrade over Reyes'. As such, Cecchini -- a career .283/.348/.398 hitter in the minors -- would seemingly represent an appealing reserve option for the big club, though it's uncertain when he'll be healthy enough to contribute.
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Mets' Gavin Cecchini: Hits second spring homer Friday
Rotowire
Cecchini hit a solo home run in his only at-bat during Friday's split-squad game against the Nationals.
While there doesn't appear to be room for Cecchini on a big-league roster that already features Asdrubal Cabrera, Jose Reyes and Wilmer Flores, the 24-year-old is doing his best to force the Mets to make a tough decision, collecting four hits -- including two homers and a double -- in his first seven spring at-bats while also walking twice. If Cecchini keeps raking, it could encourage the front office to pull the trigger on a trade to clear space for him.
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Mets' Gavin Cecchini: Heads back to minors
Rotowire
Cecchini was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
Cecchini wasn't in line to see everyday at-bats with Asdrubal Cabrera (thumb) returning from the disabled list, so the Mets decided to send him back to Las Vegas. The 23-year-old held his own during a five-game stretch with the big club, slashing .286/.286/.500 with one homer in 14 at-bats, so he could be back before the end of the season should another opportunity arise.
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Mets' Gavin Cecchini: Hits first big-league home run Monday
Rotowire
Cecchini went 1-for-3 with his first career home run in a loss to the Dodgers on Monday.
The most impressive thing about his fifth-inning blast was that it came with two strikes against superstar lefty Clayton Kershaw. This was also his first start in the majors, and although T.J. Rivera is expected to get most of the reps at the keystone with Neil Walker (hamstring) out, Cecchini could push him for playing time with more performances like this -- and simultaneously prove his worth in the organization with top prospect Amed Rosario knocking on the door to New York.
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Mets' Gavin Cecchini: Will be called up Monday
Rotowire
Cecchini will be recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday, Matt Ehalt of The Record reports.
This will mark Cecchini's second stint with the big-league club, as the 2012 first-rounder went 2-for-6 with two doubles and two RBI in four games with the Mets last season. The 23-year-old currently owns a .254/.316/.369 triple slash with nine RBI and is 3-for-3 in steal attempts through 30 games with Las Vegas. A corresponding roster move should be announced once the move is official, with the likeliest transactions to be Adam Wilk (who was recalled for Sunday's spot start) getting demoted or Asdrubal Cabrera (thumb) getting placed on the disabled list to clear room.
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Mets' Gavin Cecchini: Slated for time at SS, 3B this season
Rotowire
Cecchini is expected to log playing time at shortstop every 10-to-12 days and possibly even third base this season, Betsy Helfand of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.
The Mets' Triple-A affiliate appears to be putting a large focus on versatility this season, so even a top prospect like Cecchini will get looks at other positions. The 23-year-old will still likely be brought up as a second baseman with fellow prospect Amed Rosario slated to man shortstop in the future, but the versatility certainly won't hurt as Cecchini looks to land a job with the Mets later in the season.
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Mets' Gavin Cecchini: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Cecchini was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday, Marc Carig of Newsday reports.
Cecchini was in the conversation for a utility role with the Mets, but he and Matt Reynolds, who was also cut Wednesday, were always believed to be firmly behind Wilmer Flores and T.J. Rivera for those duties. The 23-year-old will now prep for a second straight season at Las Vegas, where he slashed .325/.390/.448 in 2016.
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Mets' Gavin Cecchini: Drives in two Saturday
Rotowire
Cecchini went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.
He's been getting a long look at second base through camp so far, and with Neil Walker's contract talks stalled, another big season at Triple-A Las Vegas could make Cecchini a strong option to take over the keystone for the Mets in 2018. His 2017 fantasy value will depend on injuries opening up a spot in the big league infield, however.
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Mets' Gavin Cecchini: Getting call up Tuesday
Rotowire
Cecchini will be added to the Mets' 40-man and promoted to the majors Tuesday, Marc Carig of Newsday reports.
The Mets will make room for Cecchini by placing Neil Walker on the 60-day disabled list. Cecchini has morphed from a good-field, little-hit shortstop when he was drafted to one who is more known for his offense. He likely won't see much action, but can back up at both middle infield spots after seeing time at second base recently at Triple-A Las Vegas.
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Mets' Gavin Cecchini: Makes first game appearance
Rotowire
Cecchini made his first game appearance Wednesday after reportedly dealing with some back issues, Adam Rubin of ESPN New York reports.
It wasn't known that the young shortstop was dealing with an ailment, but it's good to see that he's good to go for game action. It's unlikely that Cecchini will make the major league roster out of camp, but the added experience against major league pitching that he's getting during spring training is definitely nice.
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Mets' Gavin Cecchini: Receives spring training invite
Rotowire
Cecchini (hip) received a spring training invite from the Mets, Adam Rubin of ESPN New York reports.
Cecchini hit .317/.377/.442 in 109 games with Double-A Binghamton last year, building off the mild success he had the prior season. The jury is still out if he will hit enough and be good enough defensively to be a starter in the majors, as some feel he will settle in as a utility infielder.
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Mets reassign five more players to minor-league camp
Rotowire
The Mets announced Tuesday they reassigned pitchers Matt Bowman, Tyler Pill, Hansel Robles, Cody Satterwhite and Gabriel Ynoa.
They join outfielder Brandon Nimmo, infielder Gavin Cecchini and catcher Xorge Carrillo, who were reassigned last week.
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Mets' Gavin Cecchini gaining ground on getting to major leagues
Rotowire
Former first-round pick Gavin Cecchini is starting to grow as a player. In 2014, the Mets 2012 first rounder hit .247 with eight home runs and 56 RBI in stints with three different minor league clubs.
"My walk-to-strikeout ratio was way better last year," Cecchini said to ESPN.com. "That's just repetition and getting out there and getting a bunch of at-bats. The more times you do something, you're going to get better at it."
Cecchini is also seeing more growth in his power numbers from when he first started in the minor leagues.
"Definitely," Cecchini said. "And, not to make any excuses, but we played at really big fields -- Savannah, which is a big ballpark. And here in the Florida State League there are a bunch of big ballparks, too. My power numbers were good. As long as I just keep getting stronger and stay with my approach, everything is going to work out."
