The New York Mets have a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays for veteran left-handed pitcher Rich Hill. The 41-year-old is in his 17th season in MLB. He made 19 starts for Tampa this year, posting a 3.87 ERA over 95.1 innings. The Mets gave up veteran reliever Tommy Hunter and Single-A catcher Matt Dyer in the deal. Hunter is currently sidelined with an injury but pitched well in the four games he appeared in, putting up a 0.00 ERA. Dyer was drafted in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB Draft. Due to the pandemic, he didn’t get to play in the minors last year, so this year is his first year in pro ball. The 23-year-old appeared in 36 games and had a .194 batting average.
We’ve acquired left-handed pitcher Rich Hill from Tampa Bay in exchange for right-handed pitcher Tommy Hunter and minor league catcher Matt Dyer. https://t.co/P24Fo2HoYd
— New York Mets (@Mets) July 23, 2021
New York Mets Side of the Deal
If you’ve watched the Mets this year, you know how much injuries have affected this team, particularly the pitching. Jacob deGrom, Carlos Carrasco, David Peterson, Joey Lucchesi, and Jordan Yamamoto are all currently on the injured list. Marcus Stroman and Taijuan Walker have also had injury scares throughout the year. Rich Hill certainly gives the Mets some much-needed help until some of those guys come back. Hill provides a veteran presence in the clubhouse and can get through innings. He will also be the only LHP in the rotation until Peterson comes back. Since Aaron Loup is the only lefty the Mets have in the bullpen, Hill would also be useful in relief.
Tampa Bay Rays Side of the Deal
Although Hill was good for the Rays, he struggled through the last month with a high ERA. Given his age, it could be a smart decision to let him go now, although only time will tell. They got a young catcher in Matt Dyer who played well in college, hitting for a high average over his three seasons. He has struggled in Single-A but keep in mind that he’s coming off of a year where he couldn’t play professional baseball, so things could change quickly. Tommy Hunter is currently injured, and according to a recent report, isn’t expected to return for the rest of the season. If he does end up returning, he gives the Rays some bullpen depth and can make a spot start if he needs to, as he did with the New York Mets this season.
Players Mentioned: Rich Hill, Tommy Hunter, Matt Dyer, Jacob deGrom, Carlos Carrasco, David Peterson, Joey Lucchesi, Jordan Yamamoto, Marcus Stroman, Taijuan Walker, Aaron Loup
Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images
