Mets Trade Deadline Recap

August 4, 2024

On Tuesday's past trade deadline, the Mets loaded up on a left-hand batter and a plentiful of right-handed relievers.

The first player the Mets traded for was Rays reliever Phil Maton, giving up a player to be named later or cash in early July. So far this year Phil Maton has had a 4.25 ERA, 37 strikeouts, 7.9 K/9, and 19 walks on 42.1 innings pitched. Through 4 different teams and 7 years of playing Maton has a 4.25 ERA, 18-14 record, allowed a .242 batting average and 10.1 K/9. Right now the 31-year-old is playing under a $2.7 million deal and at the end of the year the Mets have a $7.7 million team option, if the Mets choose to decline the option he will become an unrestricted free agent and if the Mets decline he will become an UFA at the end of the season.

The next player the Mets traded for was Ryne Stanek from the Mariners on July 27th. In 2024 Stanek had a 4.87 ERA, 1.352 WHIP, 37 hits, and 45 strikeouts season. Across his 8-season career, Stanek has posted a 3.60 ERA, 1.282 WHIP, and 10.5 strikeouts per 9 innings. Like Phil Maton, Ryne Stanek is also a free agent at the end of the year, but without options and getting paid $1.4 million this year. The Mets traded away their 30th-ranked prospect outfielder Rhylan Thomas to acquire the right-handed pitcher. 

The only bat the Mets traded for was left Jesse Winker, who has been a decent bat over the past couple of years even being named an all-star just 3 years ago. This year with the Nationals Winker has been hitting .259, .792 OPS, 11 home runs, and 45 RBIs. Jesse Winker has a history with Mets fans, the history dates back to 2019 when he was on the Reds when he waved goodbye to Met fans after hitting a go-ahead home run in the 9th innings, and from then on he was booed, he also traded a signed ball to a fan for a hate sign that was directed towards Winker. The Mets gave up their number 23 prospect pitcher Tyler Stuart to grab Jesse Winker.

The first trade for the Mets on Tuesday's trade deadline was for right-handed starter Paul Blackburn from the Athletics in exchange for the Mets #25 rank prospect Kade Morris. Blackburn has the chance to be a solid mid-rotation piece for the Mets that will take Tylor Megill’s spot in the rotation. This year, Blackburn pitched a 4.11 ERA, with 44 strikeouts, 1.175 WHIP, and 57.0 innings. 

A small trade the Mets made on Tuesdays was a minor-league pitcher player swap with the Rays where they acquired Tyler Zubert and traded away Paul Gervase. In 2024 Zubert appeared in just 2 games for the Rays, once against the Yankees where he pitched 1.1 innings, allowing 2 hits, 1 run, and a walk with 2 strikeouts, his second appearance was against the Red where he pitched 2 innings, allowed 1 hit, 1 walk, 0 runs and striking out 2 batters. Overall in his career, the 29-year-old has pitched 52.2 innings, allowed a .228 batting average and a 5.13 ERA. However, despite the trade, there is a solid chance we won’t see Zubert this year in Queens unless there is an injury to a major-league reliever or during the September roster expansions.  

The best arm and the last trade the Mets completed was for Marlins 24-year-old Huascar Brazobán in exchange for Mets #22 ranked prospect Wilfredo Lara. So far in 2024, Brazobán has had quite an impressive year, having a 2.84 ERA, allowing just 12 walks, and striking out 36 batters in 31.2 innings. Brazobán has a nice arson of 4 pitches, a cutter, sinker, 4-seam fastball, and changeup with his sinker being his best pitch as he throws it 96 MPH, with 22.4 inches of drop and 17.3 inches of break.

Overall, this was a strong trade deadline for the Mets, trading for quality arms and a decent bat without giving up a top-20 prospect.