New York Mets Trade For Left-Handed Reliever

The New York Mets have acquired some solid depth for their bullpen in a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. 34-year-old left-hander Brooks Raley goes from Tampa to New York. 

The Mets are acquiring Brooks Raley in a trade from the Rays, per @JonHeyman pic.twitter.com/oSrHXSgR5o

— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) December 7, 2022

In exchange, the Mets send 22-year-old minor league lefty Keyshawn Askew to the Rays. Askew is not on the team's Top 30 prospects list. 

2022 was a career year for Raley, who is going into his 6th season in the big leagues. He posted a 2.68 ERA for the Rays, with a 0.97 WHIP and 10.2 K/9. And while he's always been able to miss bats at a high rate, getting the walks under control was a key for Raley is putting together a fine year. 

Raley is a numbers darling. 92nd percentile chase rate, 89th fastball spin, 98th hard-hit rate, 99th barrel, 94th xSLG. Good mix of sinker, slider, change, cutter. https://t.co/jxgsXDbE8u

— Jack Ramsey (@jackwramsey) December 7, 2022

Looking under the hood, the metrics are even better, as per Mets reporter Jack Ramsey. The southpaw finished in the 92nd percentile in chase rate, the 98th percentile in lowest hard-hit rate, 99th in lowest barrels, 94th xSLG, and 89th in fastball spin. He also held LHBs last season to a .155 average and .482 OPS.

Raley is scheduled to earn $4.5M in 2023. 

Photo: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports