The New York Mets traded pitcher Matt Harvey to the Cincinnati Reds for catcher Devin Mesoraco and cash in a deal of broken down all stars.
The trade marks the end of Harvey’s tumultuous tenure in New York. It was a bumpy ride for Harvey who went from being the Dark Knight three years ago to a villain this season.
Prior to having Tommy John surgery, Harvey was on his way to stardom. He burst onto the scene in 2013 going 9-5 with a 2.27 ERA. After having Tommy John surgery in 2014, Harvey returned in 2015 and went 13-8 with a 2.71 ERA helping lead the Mets to the World Series.
Harvey hasn’t been the same since then going a combined 9-19 with a 6.19 ERA the last three seasons. He was diagnosed with Thorasic Outlet Syndrome last season, a condition that has ended many pitchers careers. It appears that Harvey’s career could be the next one claimed by TOS seeing that he can’t crack 92 miles per hour with his fastball and his velocity is down four miles per hour from four years ago.
In Devin Mesoraco, the Mets get a veteran catcher with some power. He hit 25 home runs and drove in 80 in 2014. With starter Travis D’Arnaud our for the season, the Mets needed a veteran catcher that can step in and play. Mesoraco lost his starting job to Tucker Barnhart in Cincinnati. Mesoraco has can hit in the middle of the Mets line up provided he’s healthy.
Realistically speaking, neither team will benefit from this deal. Cincinnati is the worst possible destination for Harvey. The team stinks, they play in a bandbox of a ballpark and the culture is bad there. Acquiring Harvey was an act of desperation for the Reds as they look to stay relevant. As for Mesoraco, the Mets needed a catcher for the rest of this season. Mesoraco has no long term future in Queens.
Either way, it will be an interesting trade to follow the rest of this season.