Just Mets

Dillon Gee will attempt to crack the Royals pitching staff in 2016, as he has signed a minor league contract with the Royals, reports Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.

Gee’s awkward 2015 season began with trade winds swirling around him throughout the winter and through the early part of spring training. The team dispatched him to the bullpen with hopes he could serve as a reliever.

But when Zack Wheeler required Tommy John Surgery, the Mets moved him back into the rotation. However, a few weeks later Gee found himself competing with Rafael Montero for that rotation spot, with Gee ultimately winning out.

But that wouldn’t last forever. Gee went down with an injury in early May and was replaced by Noah Syndergaard in the rotation. When Gee returned, he served as a spot starter and did not fare well then, either.

He was designated for assignment a short while after, and accepted a minor league assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas while he earned his big league salary. He did not return to the Mets after struggling with Las Vegas to the tune of a 4.58 ERA in 14 starts under Wally Backman.

Gee would have been eligible for arbitration again this winter. As such, it was unlikely the Mets would have tendered Gee a contract and brought him back to spring training next year with no obvious role for him to take.

Gee allowed 55 hits, 11 walks and 26 earned runs in only 39 2/3 innings for the Mets in 2015, a span of eight appearances and seven starts.

He went 40-37 with a 4.03 ERA in 114 appearances and 110 starts in six seasons with the Mets.

He was selected by the Mets in the 21st round of the 2007 first-year player draft. He has spent his entire professional career with the Mets organization.

Gee elected free agency following the 2015 season.