The New York Mets' top priority as Tuesday's trade deadline approached was to improve a pitching staff beset by injuries and ineffectiveness. They addressed the matter with three minor moves in the final hours before the clock struck 6 p.m. ET.
The dealing started with New York acquiring right-handed starting pitcher Paul Blackburn from the Oakland Athletics. Minutes later, the team agreed to a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays for right-handed reliever Tyler Zuber. They concluded their activity by landing Huascar Brazoban, another right-handed reliever, from the Miami Marlins.
Two months ago, the Mets, in disarray and 10 games under .500, were on a straight path to being one of the most aggressive subtractors at the deadline. But a June surge and more strong play in July flipped the switch for the front office. Instead of trading impending free agents like Pete Alonso, Luis Severino and Harrison Bader, the goal became bolstering a roster fighting for a playoff spot without adding too much payroll or sacrificing too much prospect capital.
In the end, they landed six players in the last month: Tuesday's trio of pitchers plus relievers Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek, and outfielder Jesse Winker.
Blackburn, 30, began the season with 22⅓ scoreless innings over four starts. The 2022 All-Star later missed more than six weeks with a stress reaction in his right foot. He was activated Friday and gave up four runs over five innings against the Los Angeles Angels.
The veteran should supply the Mets with depth in the back end of the rotation after the club over the last week lost Kodai Senga (calf) for the remainder of the regular season and Christian Scott (elbow) for at least a month.
Zuber, 29, began the season with the independent league Long Island Ducks before signing with Tampa in May. He recorded a 2.49 ERA in 18 games for Triple-A Durham before getting called up to the majors twice in the last 10 days. He appeared in two games for the Rays in those short stints, surrendering one run over 3⅓ innings.
Brazobán, who missed the first month of the season with visa issues, registered a 2.93 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 20 relief appearances for the Marlins. The 34-year-old Dominican's 15.4% hard-hit rate ranked second in the majors among relievers with at least 30 innings pitched.
Oakland received Kade Morris, a 22-year-old right-hander with a 3.51 ERA across Low-A and High-A, in exchange for Blackburn, who was their longest-tenured player and is under team control through 2025. The Mets netted Zuber for right-hander Paul Gervase, 24, who has a 3.25 ERA in 22 relief appearances in Double-A. Brazobán cost them Wilfredo Lara, a 20-year-old infielder who batted .244 with a .692 OPS in 78 games in High-A.