Feb 21, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Matt Gage poses for a portrait during media day at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Another sign the New York Mets aren’t going to go away quietly, they picked up lefty reliever Matt Gage in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. Cash considerations head to the Dodgers. Whatever happened to the good old days of a player to be named later?
With Jake Diekman lacking any sort of trustworthiness, a move like this was a necessary one. We’ve seen Danny Young and Tyler Jay recently fizzle. Why not give a shot to someone else?
Gage has been quite excellent in his brief time in the majors. In 19.2 innings with the Toronto Blue Jays and Houston Astros, the 1.83 ERA is impossible to overlook. A starter turned reliever who has tossed 21 innings in Triple-A this season with a 4.29 ERA, the Mets can only hope this under the radar trade is anything like the one for Luis Torrens.
The Mets-Yankees trade for Luis Torrens set a high bar for small David Stearns trades
A small “so what?” type of trade with the New York Yankees midseason might end up as the greatest heist by the Mets with their Big Apple brother. Minor league catcher Luis Torrens went from the Bronx to Queens (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre technically) in exchange for the one thing Steve Cohen has in abundance, cash.
Already a seasoned veteran in the majors, Torrens was tearing apart Triple-A pitching to the tune of a .279/.339/.468 slash line in 124 plate appearances. It was far better than what he had done in the past at the major league level although those 15 home runs in 2021 with the Seattle Mariners were worth an eyebrow raise.
Making this an even greater thievery from the Yankees is the situation they’re undergoing with their catchers. Jose Trevino has hit okay. Youngster Austin Wells is going to need some time. Opposing teams have found a way to run amuck on them. If only they had a player like Torrens to help stop the bleeding.
Torrens’ impact was immediate and not just because it led to the dismissal of Omar Narvaez. He has hit incredibly well, slashing .310/.356/.595 with 3 home runs and 8 RBI. More stunning is how cement-footed opposing runners are. He has thrown out 6 out of 9 attempted base thieves.
