The New York Mets, who are only one game behind the Chicago Cubs in the chase for the second Wild Card, just got a little better today…
The Mets have acquired RHP Tyler Clippard and cash considerations from Oakland in exchange for minor league RHP Casey Meisner.
— New York Mets (@Mets) July 27, 2015
Tyler Clippard was long expected to be traded, as he is a reliever on a last place team with a contract that expires at the end of the season. He was mentioned as a theoretical fit for the Chicago Cubs back when I looked at the Oakland A’s in the Taking Stock Series, but there were barely a handful of thin rumors actually connecting the righty reliever to Chicago.
As for the Mets, they continue to improve and inch closer to the Cubs (and the Giants). On Friday, the Mets added Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson to help improve their offense, and now they’ve added a significant piece to their bullpen, as well. The cost, Meisner, was a pretty legitimate pitching prospect.
Clippard, who has been fantastic over the past six years, has an interesting line this year. His 2.79 ERA looks great at first, but his FIP (3.89) and xFIP (5.31) say some regression may be lurking. Due to his long, successful history, though, I wouldn’t count on him failing.
The Mets bullpen, by the way, already had the sixth lowest ERA in MLB.