August 2nd, 2024
Anthony DiComo
@AnthonyDiComoThis story was excerpted from Anthony DiComo’s Mets Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
NEW YORK -- The Mets turned over nearly a quarter of their 40-man roster in July, which certainly isn’t typical. All told, they completed 11 (!) trades over the course of the month. And while none of them were of the blockbuster variety, they still created a feeling of transience within the clubhouse. Walk through the double doors at Citi Field leading to that room, and any number of new faces might greet you.
Many of those newcomers figure to play important roles for the Mets down the stretch, so let’s take a moment to meet them:
Jesse Winker, OF
Of all the new additions, Winker is probably the only one who needs no introduction. He became a cult villain -- if such a phrase exists -- back in 2019, when he drew fans’ ire for waving to them after a go-ahead homer (on one occasion) and a game-ending catch (on another). When a fan subsequently showed up to the ballpark holding a sign that denigrated him, Winker signed a ball and tossed it to him in exchange for the sign. It was a fun relationship.
Now, Winker, a Buffalo native, is a Met. He was the team’s most prominent acquisition prior to the Trade Deadline, as a platoon outfielder who figures to start in right field or at DH pretty much every time the Mets face a right-handed pitcher. So far, Winker is 2-for-6 with a walk for his new team. There are worse ways to make amends.
Paul Blackburn, RHP
The headliner of Deadline Day itself was Blackburn, a stalwart of the A’s rotation the past three seasons. Nothing Blackburn does is flashy. He throws in the low 90s. He strikes out significantly less than one batter per inning. He induces ground balls and doesn’t walk too many guys. He probably drives a Honda.
But the Mets didn’t acquire Blackburn for flash. They acquired him for stability, knowing they only ran five deep with healthy MLB-caliber starters before getting him. Blackburn, who was in San Francisco at the time of the trade, stayed out West and will join the Mets in time to start their Friday series opener in Anaheim. He should remain a regular rotation member for the rest of the season.
Huascar Brazobán, RHP
Ask rival scouts, and most will say the Mets’ best value deal was getting Brazobán from the Marlins for their 22nd-ranked prospect, infielder Wilfredo Lara. Brazobán has what president of baseball operations David Stearns called a unique pitch mix, including a fastball he can run into the upper 90s, plus a sinker, changeup and cutter.
It’s rare to find a reliever who features four distinct pitches and doesn’t throw any of them more than a third of the time. That’s what’s allowed Brazobán to establish himself as an effective multi-inning option.
Phil Maton, RHP
The old hand of this group, Maton came to the Mets more than three weeks ago and has since established himself as a bullpen stalwart. His claim to fame is his ability to thrive despite a lack of velocity; Maton’s fastest pitch as a Met was clocked at 90.7 mph.
Ryne Stanek, RHP
The polar opposite of Maton, Stanek throws hard -- like, really hard. Among the 251 big leaguers who have thrown at least 400 fastballs this season, Stanek ranks sixth with an average velocity of 97.9 mph.
Tyler Zuber, RHP
Zuber joins a nearly 20-year history of Long Island Ducks to hook on with the Mets, including Nelson Figueroa, Justin Hampson, Scott Rice, Deven Marrero and Rob Zastryzny. Unlike those players, however, Zuber didn’t initially sign with the closest geographic club, diverting instead to Tampa Bay. There, he did enough good things for the Mets to swap 6-foot-9 pitching prospect Paul Gervase for him.
Matt Gage, LHP
Gage, who came over from the Dodgers earlier in July, grew up about an hour north of Cooperstown in upstate N.Y. Although he’s not currently with the big club, as an optionable reliever, Gage is likely to return before long.
Alex Young, LHP
Less than a month ago, the Giants acquired Young from the Reds and immediately tried to pass him through waivers. It didn’t work, as the Mets claimed him and have since made Young a central part of their bullpen. He’s thrown 4 2/3 shutout innings so far and -- along with Gage and Danny Young -- hopes to establish himself as manager Carlos Mendoza’s most trusted lefty.
