The Mets made a move to add depth to their starting pitching by acquiring Paul Blackburn from the A’s. Blackburn, who has spent a good deal of this season on the IL, has a 4.41 ERA in nine starts and 51 IP this season. Perhaps the best thing about Blackburn is that he throws strikes. He has allowed just 14 BB this year and has a 2.5 BB/9, which has led to a strong 1.157 WHIP.
The flip side of that is that he’s a little gopher-ball heavy, with a 1.4 HR/9. And he was helped out in that regard by his home park in Oakland, where he allowed just 1 HR in 26 IP, compared to 7 HR in 25 IP on the road. If he can get the home runs under control, he has a chance to be a worthwhile pickup.
To get this wild card, the Mets sent Kade Morris to Oakland. A third-round pick in the 2023 Draft, Morris has split time between two Class-A clubs. He seemed to be hitting his stride in his last six games, as he posted a 2.12 ERA with 35 Ks in 34 IP. It should be noted that four of those starts were in Brooklyn, which is a pitcher-friendly environment.
Ordinarily, Morris would be a bit of an overpay for a pitcher like Blackburn. But in this period where both relievers and starters are pulling in strong trade packages, it’s probably as good as the Mets could do. There’s upside with Blackburn, who was an All-Star in 2022. But the Mets don’t need him to be an All-Star – they just need him to be an upgrade on Tylor Megill and his 5.20 ERA. And Blackburn can likely meet that requirement.
Blackman is an upgrade to Megill and will take his spot on the rotation. He is controllable until 2026. He is just a 5th starter in his entire career. Megill should be demoted to Syracuse and be a depth starter this season. Next year he should transition to a relief pitcher.