On Tuesday, the New York Mets acquired some much-needed bullpen help by securing reliever Phil Maton from the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays will either get cash considerations or a player to be named later. To make room on the roster, the Mets designated starting pitcher Joey Lucchesi for assignment.
Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns confirmed New York is picking up the remainder of Maton's $6.25 million salary. According to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, the deal also includes a $7.75 million team option for 2025 with a $250,000 buyout.
"We've had a variety of conversations, frankly, that have gone on for weeks now on the 'pen," Stearns said. "This is someone that we targeted and talked to over the offseason. Has been a very consistent reliever pitching in high-leverage environments in big games in Houston. He got off to a rougher start this year, and we think some of the adjustments he's made over the last month or so - throwing a few more strikes, some usage adjustments - have led to some better results, and we're happy to bring him into our 'pen."
Maton is 1-2 with a 4.58 ERA and two saves with the Rays this season. He has walked 18 batters and has 30 strikeouts. Maton will add some much-needed help to a bullpen that has been plagued by injuries. The Mets have lost Brooks Raley and Drew Smith to season-ending elbow injuries. Sean Reid-Foley and Shintaro Fujinami are on the injured list but are expected to be back at some point.
On Sunday, the Mets acquired reliever Matt Gage in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, they optioned Gage to Triple-A Syracuse. The Mets should call up Gage because they need all the help they can get, and Maton can't do it alone. At the start of July, the Mets bullpen had a 9.41 ERA, which was last in the majors. Now, the Mets bullpen has a 4.13 ERA, which puts them 16th. With Maton and Gage, the Mets bullpen may improve and get them over the hump In the NL East.
(Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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