The New York Mets’ trade deadline plans have shifted multiple times throughout the 2024 season. Initially expected to be one of the biggest sellers at the deadline, the Mets leveraged a series of winning streaks to enter playoff contention and have now become buyers.
The Mets’ primary need was relief pitching, as six of the eight original members of their Opening Day bullpen are either out for the season due to injury or no longer with the team.
In response to these bullpen gaps, president of baseball operations David Stearns acquired four new relief pitchers: Matt Gage, Phil Maton, Alex Young, and Ryne Stanek.
Subsequently, the starting rotation also took a hit when Christian Scott suffered a right UCL sprain, and 2023 All-Star Kodai Senga was sidelined for the regular season with a calf sprain after just one start.
With the starting rotation significantly weakened, Stearns has been actively seeking to add a starter and found a trade partner in the Oakland Athletics.
The Mets have traded for Paul Blackburn from the Oakland Athletics.
According to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, the Mets have acquired starting pitcher Paul Blackburn from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for minor-league pitcher Kade Morris.
Blackburn has had an injury-plagued 2024 season, missing over two months due to a stress reaction in his right foot. The 2022 All-Star has made just nine starts this season, pitching 51 innings with a 4.41 ERA, a 1.157 WHIP, and 38 strikeouts.
The 30-year-old will join the Mets’ rotation for the rest of the season and remains under contract through 2025.
In exchange for Blackburn, the Athletics received the Mets’ 2023 third-round pick and their No. 25 prospect, Kade Morris. Morris has split his time between Single-A St. Lucie and High-A Brooklyn, pitching 92.1 innings across 18 appearances (16 starts) with a 3.51 ERA, a 1.213 WHIP, and 95 strikeouts.
