The Reds and Mets have lined up on a commerce sending outfielder Tyler Naquin and minor league reliever Phillip Diehl from Cincinnati to New York. In trade, the Reds are buying a pair of low minors prospects, right-hander Jose Acuña and second baseman Hector Rodríguez. Each golf equipment have introduced the settlement.
Naquin had been one of many extra apparent commerce candidates across the league. The 31-year-old is ready to achieve free company on the finish of the season, so there was little purpose for the last-place Reds to not look to maneuver him for future worth. He’ll head to Queens because the second left-handed bat the Mets have added in as many weeks. New York picked up first baseman/designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach in a deal with the Pirates final Friday.
A former first-round choose of Cleveland, Naquin had a superb rookie season again in 2016. His offensive productiveness was up-and-down for the remainder of his time there, however he’s settled in as a strong platoon bat over the previous two years. Naquin signed a minor league take care of Cincinnati over the 2020-21 offseason, and he cracked the Opening Day roster final yr. That paved for the best way for a season and a half as a Pink, by which he posted a .262/.324/.462 line by means of 655 plate appearances.
That total offensive productiveness is a hair above common, and Naquin has been fairly good when holding the platoon benefit. He’s popped 23 homers in 542 plate appearances towards right-handed pitching over the previous couple seasons, compiling a .278/.338/.503 mark towards righties. That energy has translated exterior of the Reds hitter-friendly Nice American Ball Park, and the Mets determine to leverage him as a platoon participant down the stretch.
The Mets have one of many sport’s finest outfields, with a trio of Mark Canha, Brandon Nimmo and Starling Marte manning the grass. Canha and Marte will proceed to choose up the lion’s share of enjoying time within the corners, however Naquin enhances these veteran right-handed bats. He’ll additionally complement a DH group that features Vogelbach and Dominic Smith from the left aspect, in addition to the righty-swinging J.D. Davis.
Naquin’s acquisition seemingly will increase the probability that at the least certainly one of Smith or Davis will get dealt earlier than subsequent Tuesday’s deadline. The Mets have been on the hunt for offensive assist for weeks, largely attributable to dissatisfaction with Smith’s and Davis’ efficiency. Including a pair of DH/bench bats to an already full outfield and with celebrity Pete Alonso at first base additional clutters that group. Every of Smith and Davis has minor league choices remaining, and the Mets have already optioned Smith this yr. That’s a chance if the membership merely needs to stockpile as a lot depth as doable, nevertheless it additionally stands to purpose they’d be open to commerce alternatives.
The Mets will seemingly add a bit of cash to the payroll, as there’s no indication money issues are altering arms. Naquin is enjoying this season on a $4.025MM wage, round $1.525MM of which remains to be to be paid. The Mets luxurious tax determine is narrowly above the $290MM threshold, within the estimation of Jason Martinez of Roster Resource. Beneath the brand new collective bargaining settlement, a crew that exceeds $290MM (the fourth and highest tier of CBT penalization) is taxed at an 80% fee for each greenback thereafter.
Along with Naquin, the Mets add some non-roster bullpen depth. Diehl, who was outrighted off the Reds 40-man roster in Could, received’t instantly occupy a spot on New York’s 40-man. He’s spent the majority of the season with the Reds prime affiliate in Louisville, working to a 4.24 ERA by means of 23 1/3 innings. The 27-year-old has a superb 30.6% strikeout fee towards a good 8.2% stroll proportion, though his fly-ball oriented strategy has made him pretty dwelling run inclined.
New York’s left-handed aid depth is skinny, with Joely Rodríguez and up to date waiver declare Sam Clay the one two bullpen southpaws on the 40-man roster. Clay has been hit onerous in 4 appearances with Triple-A Syracuse and has but to seem in an MLB sport as a Met. Rodríguez, acquired from the Yankees shortly earlier than the season, owns a 5.93 ERA throughout 27 1/3 innings on the yr. He’s putting out batters and inducing grounders at a good clip, however he’s additionally walked a large 16.3% of batters confronted. Left-handed aid assist figures to proceed to be a goal over the following few days even with Diehl bolstering the organizational depth.
To create area for Naquin on the 40-man roster, the Mets introduced they’ve designated reliever R.J. Alvarez for task. The righty was chosen onto the roster earlier this month however didn’t wind up making an MLB look. He’s had a pleasant season in Syracuse, working to a 3.16 ERA by means of 31 1/3 frames. The Mets will presumably place the 31-year-old on waivers within the coming days.
The Reds, in the meantime, add some expertise to the decrease ranges. Rodríguez, an 18-year-old infielder, was not too long ago ranked by Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs because the #30 prospect within the Mets group. Longenhagen writes that the left-handed hitter has wonderful bat management, however he has restricted energy upside in a 5’8″ body. He was not too long ago signed out of the Dominican Republic. Acuña, 19, was not too long ago promoted to Low-A. He has by no means appeared on an organizational prospect record at FanGraphs or Baseball America.
It’s the primary transfer of what’s prone to be a busy few days for Cincinnati common supervisor Nick Krall and his workers. Luis Castillo and Tyler Mahle are the membership’s prime commerce candidates, however in addition they have a bunch of rental bats who ought to generate curiosity. Past Naquin, Cincinnati may market impending free agent hitters Brandon Drury, Donovan Solano and Tommy Pham to contenders.
Robert Murray of FanSided first reported the Mets had been buying Diehl. Joel Sherman of the New York Post first reported the Mets had been buying Naquin. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com was first to report the prospect return.
Picture courtesy of USA Immediately Sports activities.
