There’s finally a trade deadline deal in New York not involving the Yankees. According to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, The New York Mets were working out a trade that would send Lucas Duda to the Tampa Bay Rays for minor leaguer Drew Smith.
Sources: Rays and Mets are expected to complete a deal for DH/1B Lucas Duda. Right-handed reliever Drew Smith would head back to the Mets.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 27, 2017
The Mets Twitter account has since confirmed the deal.
We have acquired RHP pitcher Drew Smith from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Lucas Duda. #Mets
— New York Mets (@Mets) July 27, 2017
New York Mets Trade Lucas Duda for Tampa Bay Rays Pitching Prospect
MLB Pipeline ranked Smith 30th among all the prospects in Tampa Bay. So far this season, across all three levels of the minors, he’s 1-2 with a 1.20 ERA and seven saves.
In return the Rays are getting a left-handed bat, and a first baseman/DH. Duda has been hitting well this season. He’s hitting .246/.347/.552 with 17 home runs and 37 RBI.
This trade is a win-win for both teams.
The Mets are getting relief help for their bullpen that they could bring up during September. This trade is a clear indicator that the Mets plan to bring up at least Dominic Smith at some point soon.
The Rays face the Yankees seven more times this season in New York, and Tropicana Field isn’t exactly a treacherous place for left-handed hitters either.
The Mets are clearly throwing in the towel now on the 2017 season. They’ve clearly given up on this season. Meanwhile the Rays are gearing up for a run at the Wild Card race. They currently sit one game out of the second spot and 1.5 games out of getting a home Wild Card game.
The Mets eye 2018, and look to get their young prospects some time in the big leagues, even Smith himself, whom they just traded for. No matter what happens, the Mets can say they definitely didn’t lose on this trade. It works out for both teams.
