Mets Trade Verrett To Orioles, Reportedly Looking To Deal Bruce Or Granderson
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Mets traded pitcher Logan Verrett to the Orioles on Wednesday and are reportedly trying to deal one of their left-handed-hitting outfielders.
The Mets will receive an undisclosed sum of cash in exchange for Verrett, a right-hander who went 3-8 with a 5.20 ERA in 35 appearances, including 12 starts, last season.
Meanwhile, New York is open to trading Jay Bruce or Curtis Granderson, Newsday reported, adding that Granderson has been receiving more interest.
After locking up Yoenis Cespedes to a four-year, $110 million contract Tuesday, the Mets find themselves with a surplus of outfielders. Cespedes figures to start in left field. Michael Conforto and Juan Lagares could platoon in one spot, leaving either Bruce or Granderson manning the other.
Both sluggers have received interest from multiple teams, Newsday reported. A year after nearly landing Bruce in a trade, the Blue Jays may make another run at him, ESPN reported.
It's not clear what the Mets might be asking for in a trade. The team could use help at catcher or in the bullpen, especially with closer Jeurys Familia facing a possible suspension following his arrest on a domestic abuse charge. New York might also be looking to add prospects.
Bruce, 29, was leading the National League in RBIs when he was traded from the Reds to New York on Aug. 1. But in 50 games with the Mets, he batted just .219 with eight home runs and 19 RBIs and was the subject of much criticism by the media and fans.
Bruce's bat, however, came alive over the final eight games of the regular season, when he hit .480 with four homers and eight RBIs. He was 0-for-3 in the Mets' wild-card loss to the Giants.
In nine seasons in the majors, Bruce, 29, has batted .248 with 241 home runs and 737 RBIs.
Granderson endured his own share of ups and downs in 2016. He batted just .237 but hit 30 home runs, his highest tally since 2012. The 35-year-old finished the season particularly strong, hitting .313 with 10 homers over the final 29 games.
Both Granderson and Bruce are entering the final years of their contracts. Granderson is set to make $15 million in 2017, while Bruce will earn $13 million.
As a fallback plan in case they failed to re-sign Cespedes, the Mets were reportedly discussing a trade for the Tigers' J.D. Martinez. But those talks began to fall apart when Detroit asked for Conforto in return, Newsday reported.
