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Mets, Reds Swap Matt Harvey For Devin Mesoraco

By Steve Adams | May 8, 2018 at 5:18pm CDT

The Mets and Reds announced on Tuesday that they’ve swapped right-hander Matt Harvey and catcher Devin Mesoraco. The Reds are sending cash to the Mets to offset the difference in salary, as Mesoraco is earning $13.125MM in 2018 to Harvey’s $5.6MM. Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports first reported the trade was close (via Twitter).

Matt Harvey | Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports (via Twitter) that Cincinnati is paying the entirety of Mesoraco’s deal, while the Mets are paying all of Harvey’s contract. In essence, then, there’s no impact on either club’s payroll, and the move simply boils down to a change of scenery for two former stars who’ve fallen out of favor and dropped down the depth chart in their original organizations.

New York also announced that Todd Frazier has been placed on the disabled list due to a strained left hamstring, while Anthony Swarzak has been transferred to the 60-day DL. The Reds, meanwhile, have selected the contract of catcher Tony Cruz from Triple-A in a corresponding move, and he’ll now serve as the backup to Tucker Barnhart, who has replaced Mesoraco in tonight’s lineup. The Mets and Reds are playing each other tonight, and Mesoraco is available to hit for his new club. Harvey will join the Reds later this week in Los Angeles, the team announced.

For Harvey, the ace will get a clean slate in a low-pressure environment as he looks to return to form with a last-place Reds club that assuredly can afford to give him an extended look in what has been a dismal rotation. Harvey hasn’t been anywhere near the pitcher he was early in his career, with injuries derailing what was one of the more promising young careers among all MLB pitchers. Specifically, Harvey has undergone both Tommy John surgery and thoracic outlet syndrome surgery in the past four years, and his production has unsurprisingly plummeted as a result.

Harvey, 29, pitched to a pristine 2.53 ERA with 9.5 K/9 against 2.0 BB/9 in 427 big league innings from 2012-15. Tommy John surgery in 2014 slowed his career, but he was able to return to prominence with a terrific 2015 season and a heroic postseason performance that was largely befitting of his “Dark Knight” moniker, even if his ninth-inning struggles in the decisive Game 5 of the 2015 World Series will live on in infamy.

[Related: Updated New York Mets depth chart | Updated Cincinnati Reds depth chart]

The 2016 season, however, was a struggle for Harvey, as he pitched just 92 2/3 innings of 4.86 ERA ball before ultimately succumbing to the aforementioned TOS surgery. The track record of pitchers returning from TOS surgery is not good, to say the least, and Harvey is one of the more prominent data points exemplifying that fact. Since returning from that surgery in 2016, he’s pitched to a 6.77 ERA with 6.5 K/9, 4.2 BB/9 and 2.0 HR/9 in 119 2/3 innings. Harvey’s average fastball velocity is a career-low 92.6 mph so far in 2018, and he’s also posted career-worsts in chase rate (21.1 percent) and opponents’ hard-contact rate (43 percent) while notching the second-lowest swinging-strike rate of his career (8.2 percent).

Reds starters have posted an MLB-worst 5.68 ERA in 2018, and the team is unsurprisingly buried in the NL Central with an 8-27 record due in no small part to the inadequacies of its rotation. Young righties Tyler Mahle and Sal Romano have turned in ERAs in the mid-4.00s, but no other Reds starter has an ERA south of Homer Bailey’s 5.61 mark. Mahle, Romano, Bailey, Luis Castillo and Brandon Finnegan have been the primary starters for Cincinnati to date, though there’s been some suggestion that Finnegan’s spot could be in jeopardy. With an 8.27 ERA and more walks than strikeouts so far in 2018 through 20 2/3 innings, he’s been the worst offender in a stunningly bad collection of starting pitchers.

Viewed through that lens, there’s a very low bar for Harvey to clear in his new environs. Without the expectation of contending, he’ll be able to start regularly with the Reds and try to get straightened out even if he initially struggles. However, it’s also worth noting that from a ballpark perspective, Harvey is landing in one of the worst spots possible for a pitcher that has had home run issues since TOS surgery. Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park is known as a hitters’ haven and is especially home-run friendly for hitters, so Harvey will have his work cut out for him in rebounding in a park with dimensions that won’t do him any favors.

Devin Mesoraco | Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer via USA TODAY NETWORK

Turning to the Mets, in Mesoraco they’re acquiring a former All-Star catcher who once looked to be a breakout star but is now a reclamation project in his own right following a brutal series of injuries. A former first-round pick (15th overall in 2007), Mesoraco long rated as one of the game’s top overall prospects. And while he took longer than most expected to realize that potential, he announced his presence as the Reds’ catcher of the future — or so they thought — in 2014 when he hit .273/.359/.534 with 25 homers and 25 doubles, making his lone All-Star appearance along the way.

That season was enough for the Reds to sign Mesoraco to a four-year, $28MM contract extension that covered what would’ve been his first free-agent season (2018). However, a left hip injury in 2015 prevented Mesoraco from following up on that breakthrough season, limiting him 23 games and eventually necessitating surgery. A torn labrum in his shoulder prompted season-ending surgery in 2016, and a year later Mesoraco underwent surgery on his other hip in a third consecutive injury-ruined season. Along the way, Cincinnati entrusted defensive standout Tucker Barnhart as its new primary catcher, relegating Mesraco to the role of an expensive backup.

Since playing in 114 games in that stellar 2014 campaign, Mesoraco has played in a combined 113 games from 2015-18, hitting just .195/.291/.318 in 316 plate appearances along the way. He’s off to a .220/.289/.341 start to his 2018 season through a total of 45 plate appearances, but he’ll likely receive ample opportunity to bounce back with his new club. Travis d’Arnaud has already undergone Tommy John surgery and is out for the season, while Kevin Plawecki remains shelved with a hairline fracture in his hand that he suffered upon being hit by a pitch late last month. New York has been relying on journeyman Jose Lobaton and rookie Tomas Nido to handle catching duties in the absence of d’Arnaud and Plawecki, but neither backstop has provided even a shred of offensive value. Lobaton is hitting .163/.265/.256, while Nido has slashed just .147/.197/.176.

As for the remainder of the roster moves announced today, it’s not yet clear just how long Frazier will be sidelined with his injury. With Frazier out of action, the Mets seem likely to turn to Jose Reyes and Wilmer Flores to handle duties at the hot corner. The transfer of Swarzak to the 60-day DL doesn’t necessarily impact his timeline to return, either; he’s already been out of action since April 1 due to an oblique injury and has to go out on a rehab assignment. He’ll be eligible to come back to the active roster in another 22 days, having already spent 38 days on the disabled list.

In Cincinnati, Cruz will get his first look in the big leagues since a brief cameo with the 2016 Royals. The 31-year-old is no stranger to the NL Central after serving as the backup to Yadier Molina in St. Louis from 2011-15. He’s a career .218/.260/.308 hitter in 638 MLB plate appearances. Cruz has a solid track record in Triple-A and hit .280/.341/.458 with San Diego’s top affiliate last season, though he was off to an ugly .170/.268/.255 start to his 2018 season in Louisville.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Cincinnati Reds New York Mets Newsstand Transactions Anthony Swarzak Devin Mesoraco Matt Harvey Todd Frazier Tony Cruz

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View Comments (159)
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159 Comments

  1. a1544

    7 years ago

    He deserves it there

    4
    Reply
    • Strauss

      7 years ago

      Well, the Reds did it again. Another blunder trade. Why does the state of Ohio have to have two of the dumbest pro sports franchises in the world? Reds are giving the Browns a run for their money in being stupid.

      Reply
      • c03bra

        7 years ago

        Don’t see the loss for the Reds…Harvey will sell more tickets than keeping Mesoraco. If he does well they can potentially trade him.

        3
        Reply
        • AZPat

          7 years ago

          That’s the key. If the Reds catch lightning in a bottle and Harvey shows signs that he can pitch well then the Reds can trade him at the trade deadline. This could be big for Danny Darwin as a big league pitching coach.

          1
          Reply
        • User 2997803866

          7 years ago

          That’s a lot of money to eat to try to catch lightning in a bottle.

          Reply
        • c03bra

          7 years ago

          The money was already spent. As I pointed out above Harvey will boost ticket sales as well in Cincinnati at least for a few games.

          Reply
      • Lanidrac

        7 years ago

        Besides, Mesoraco wasn’t doing anything for them, anyway. They might as well take a chance on Harvey actually improving their rotation compared to a guy was nothing more than an overpaid and easily replaceable backup catcher.

        Reply
  2. acarneglia

    7 years ago

    So he’s gonna get to potentially face the Mets right away

    1
    Reply
    • acarneglia

      7 years ago

      This trade is a win win. The Mets get a catcher which they desperately needed and the Reds get a rotation reinforcement and lose Meso’s salary

      Reply
      • jorge78

        7 years ago

        Reds still have to pay Mesoraco to beat them!

        2
        Reply
      • bigjonliljon

        7 years ago

        Agreed. Though it wouldn’t surprise me if he failed to report. Why delayed?

        1
        Reply
      • deweybelongsinthehall

        7 years ago

        Given the Mets’ catching situation and the respective financial obligations, this was a great trade for them. Sandy should be commended regardless of how Meso plays. At least he’s not a clubhouse cancer (to my knowledge).

        4
        Reply
      • SoCalBrave

        7 years ago

        More like Lose-Lose, but the Reds are paying the entirety of Mesoraco’s salary and the Mets are paying Harvey’s, so neither team is saving money on their payroll.

        3
        Reply
        • hojostache

          7 years ago

          The Mets would have eaten the entire salary if he was released. The fact they got a warm body is a win. They already have an often injured prior top-end prospect w Travis….so they can rotate who is on the DL. Plaw can start most days once healthy with Meso playing a couple of times per week. Lobaton is done. Nido has some upside, but he can head back to Vegas abd get regular ABs.

          5
          Reply
        • deweybelongsinthehall

          7 years ago

          Point is once designated, Harvey’s salary became moot. Did anyone expect the return of a past all star catcher? Granted Meso is a reclamation project but one with upside potential.

          2
          Reply
        • LongTimeFan1

          7 years ago

          hojostache. Nido’s never played For Vegas. He twice made the jump to the majors from AA.

          1
          Reply
    • Bill

      7 years ago

      Article says he’ll join the team in LA. Love that he’s going to such a crappy place. Serves him right for refusing to go to the minors to try to fix things.

      4
      Reply
      • acarneglia

        7 years ago

        Yeah that part was updated when I made that comment

        Reply
      • bigjonliljon

        7 years ago

        Lmao. Well said

        Reply
      • stymeedone

        7 years ago

        He is going to the minors. Its been some time since Cincinnati had a major league team.

        4
        Reply
        • Djones246890

          7 years ago

          Lol. I was gonna say, the Red are basically a farm team. Their AAA ball club could probably manhandle them.

          Reply
        • tv 2

          7 years ago

          5 years. lol. in a fair world a team would win a World Series every 30 years. lol funny coming from Mets fan

          Reply
      • mikeyank55

        7 years ago

        From a winning baseball team perspective misterbill, he’s in the same place as he was–with a losing franchise desperately in need of a rebuild.

        However practically speaking misterbill, he’s in a better place because at least Reds’ fans are realistic about their team’s prospects. On the other hand, many of his former team’s fans think that they are supporting a good team with a chance to go deep into October.

        1
        Reply
      • tv 2

        7 years ago

        lol. get out of the city for a change. Cincinnati is one of the nicest cities in the country. reds are one of the great all-time sports franchises. lol at least we don’t spend a ton of money to lose. At least for us losing is not permanent

        1
        Reply
        • hojostache

          7 years ago

          I’ve been to nearly every baseball stadium and it’s top 10 for overall experience. Great stadium, pretty good food options, and probably the nicest stadium staff.

          As for Harvey…meh, I expect him to get bombed most nights.

          Reply
  3. Kayrall

    7 years ago

    But why?

    1
    Reply
    • Brixton

      7 years ago

      because they can afford to gamble on a former good pitcher because they’re gonna be bad regardless of how Matt Harvey pitches for them

      7
      Reply
      • Out of place Met fan

        7 years ago

        Plus shed Mesorasco’s salary and if Harvey resembles a competent 4 starter can be flipped at the deadline.

        Reply
        • ShieldF123

          7 years ago

          Negative. Article states Reds are paying all of mesoraco’s deal and Mets are paying all of Harvey’s.

          No salary dump

          5
          Reply
        • Out of place Met fan

          7 years ago

          Yep I completely misread the market for Harvey, though it was reported after my previous comment. And I am surprised Sandy was able to get a major league contributor, especially with no salary taken on.

          1
          Reply
  4. tonysdog01

    7 years ago

    They’re getting Pete Rose.

    2
    Reply
    • skip tracey

      7 years ago

      Ha. classic

      1
      Reply
  5. fasbal1

    7 years ago

    Dark Knight going to Cincinnati, it’s a shame that the nickname no longer fits.

    1
    Reply
    • jamesalba32

      7 years ago

      The name hasn’t fit since 2015

      11
      Reply
      • fasbal1

        7 years ago

        Now it’s dark night when he comes in

        4
        Reply
        • bigjonliljon

          7 years ago

          Dark yes. Knight no. Put a fork in him. He’s done. He needs to drop the attitude and learn to be a pitcher. He can’t get by as a flame thrower any more

          4
          Reply
        • deweybelongsinthehall

          7 years ago

          So true.

          Reply
        • GarryHarris

          7 years ago

          Matt Harvey is more Don Quixote than Dark Knight.

          Reply
  6. redsFAN86

    7 years ago

    Isnt Harvey a free agent after this season?

    Reply
    • Bill

      7 years ago

      Both of them are.

      2
      Reply
  7. tieran711

    7 years ago

    Maybe a Mesoraco for Harvey swap?

    3
    Reply
    • jamesalba32

      7 years ago

      That would make the most sense. I’d assume the Mets eat Harvey’s entire 4.5mil salary to nudge the Red into accepting

      2
      Reply
    • Steven Chinwood

      7 years ago

      Great call.

      Reply
    • TheAdrianBeltre

      7 years ago

      Kudos

      Reply
  8. walls17

    7 years ago

    the reds have such a great track record with pitchers that i bet he’s back to his old self in no time!

    3
    Reply
    • matanzas1962

      7 years ago

      I would suggest that you read about Thoracic Outlet Surgery which mainly consists of Removing the Top Rib. Losing Velocity is the primary issue with the returning of it very rare if at all.

      Reply
      • BlueJayFan1515

        7 years ago

        I think it may have been sarcasm. (Eye roll)

        Reply
  9. JrMint

    7 years ago

    Cincinnati will be happy to have Matt Harvey

    Reply
    • bigjonliljon

      7 years ago

      Lol. Only if he sells a few more tickets. Reds aren’t going any where

      1
      Reply
      • mikeyank55

        7 years ago

        Neither are the Mets. The only difference Is that the Reds’ fans are realistic.

        Just sayin.

        Mets fans can pretend and make believe however the first two weeks were an fluke combined with soft schedule.

        Now as the team gets deeper into the season the holes start springing and the depth chart is inadequate.

        Reply
        • getright11

          7 years ago

          Just sayin. God I wish that Millennial phrase would go away.

          Reply
  10. AZPat

    7 years ago

    Is this there way of getting out of a long term contract with Bailey?

    Reply
    • tv 2

      7 years ago

      not unless there’s quite a turnaround by the All-Star break. although he has pitch better this year

      Reply
  11. jamesalba32

    7 years ago

    I assume we are not getting 2017 gold-glover Tucker Barnhart in this deal right? Lol

    Reply
  12. davengmusic

    7 years ago

    Well so much for rebuilding value.

    Reply
  13. plmathfoto

    7 years ago

    Still praying for a catcher

    Reply
  14. redsfan48

    7 years ago

    I like this trade for the Reds. I think Harvey can be fixed. Meso was just an expensive backup at this point. As long as the Reds made the Mets take Meso’s entire salary (or close to it) then I think this was worth the shot

    1
    Reply
    • redsfan48

      7 years ago

      Well now that we know the Reds are paying all of Meso’s salary and the Mets are paying Harvey’s, I like this trade much less.

      1
      Reply
      • JrMint

        7 years ago

        Not sure the Reds would’ve been able to get anyone to take Mesoraco’s contract. Basically all the Reds did was trade a struggling backup catcher for a struggling pitcher who will at least get to see the field

        2
        Reply
    • nymetsking

      7 years ago

      I think Matt Harvey should be fixed too. The world is a better place when $%#!# like him don’t breed.

      2
      Reply
      • mikeyank55

        7 years ago

        You need to learn to take the good with the bad. When his attitude and immaturity showed up it was in direct relation to reality setting in that he jeapordized

        Reply
        • mikeyank55

          7 years ago

          His long career payout by allowing Sandy to manipulate the situation with the press and fans so that he blew by the innings limit in 2015.

          So he disregarded his medical advice and the potential for hundreds of millions of dollars went out the door.

          Leave him alone. Wish him well. Move on.

          Reply
  15. Sportfeen69

    7 years ago

    LMFAOOOOOOOO that’s what u get go too the Reds

    1
    Reply
  16. Solaris601

    7 years ago

    Seems like a fair trade. Reds can give Harvey every opportunity to succeed since their season is shot any way. Good news for Mets is they’re getting an experienced catcher who can put up decent numbers with the bat. The bad news is Meso is extraordinarily injury prone. Who knows, maybe he’ll finally stay healthy for most of a season.

    Reply
    • hiflew

      7 years ago

      Since he is extraordinarily injury prone, he should fit in well on the Mets.

      BTW, with Bruce, Frazier, and now Mesoraco, the Mets are doing a fine job of rebuilding the 2013 Cincinnati Reds. Someone call Mat Latos and Alfredo Simon.

      5
      Reply
      • Solaris601

        7 years ago

        I don’t think they have been this many former Reds on the Mets since NYM dealt Tom Seaver to CIN for Pat Zachry, Joel Youngblood, and Doug Flynn.

        Reply
        • tommyelf

          7 years ago

          You forgot Steve Henderson….(four for one swap)

          Reply
        • Solaris601

          7 years ago

          You are correct – my bad.

          Reply
  17. davidcoonce74

    7 years ago

    While I doubt Harvey can be fixed it’s not much of a commitment for the Reds; they didn’t really have any use for Mesoraco on such a bad team and maybe at some point a TOS survivor comes back to pitch well, maybe Harvey will be that guy.

    1
    Reply
  18. its_happening

    7 years ago

    Reds are the perfect team with the best situation for Harvey. If he fails, no problem. Reds made a good decision regardless of the outcome here.

    Reply
    • DockEllisDee

      7 years ago

      true. Harvey will NOT be hounded by the press in Cincy

      Reply
      • Djones246890

        7 years ago

        True. Cincinnati is a city where people actually have souls. Unlike the cesspool of satanism, that is NYC.

        Reply
      • tv 2

        7 years ago

        except if he plays that punk s*** in Cincinnati he’ll be gone in a week

        Reply
  19. Caseys.Partner

    7 years ago

    Mesoraco had a really nice age 26 career year.

    Reply
    • darkstar61

      7 years ago

      Yeah, that would be nice. Unfortunately he’s 30 now though

      1
      Reply
  20. Rocket32

    7 years ago

    So he forced himself out of New York to get traded to the Reds? Bhahahahaha. Should have just went to AAA.

    2
    Reply
    • Gwynning's Anal Lover

      7 years ago

      That’s the same as AAA.

      3
      Reply
      • nymetsking

        7 years ago

        Vegas is better

        2
        Reply
    • Solaris601

      7 years ago

      It’s a perfect fit. Homer Bailey has been one of the worst SPs in the game for several years now (when healthy), and the local media leaves him alone. Harvey can take solace in the fact that no one will call him out on anything in the Queen City.

      Reply
  21. Gwynning's Anal Lover

    7 years ago

    I thought it would have been the Pirates with Cervelli and Diaz fighting his way in the lineup or the Red Sox with Blake Swihart. Oh well.

    Reply
    • holecamels35

      7 years ago

      No room in the Pirates rotation for him. I would have been very upset if this happened.

      Reply
  22. jorge78

    7 years ago

    Never saw that one coming…..

    Reply
    • bigjonliljon

      7 years ago

      True. Lol

      Reply
  23. Eric Cox

    7 years ago

    I had so much hope Harvey would do better this year. Oh well, good luck dude. Now is Mesoraco on the DL now or soon to be back on it?

    Reply
  24. realgone2

    7 years ago

    My trash for your trash

    Reply
  25. ajfiore1

    7 years ago

    Rosenthal: Source: Reds paying remainder of Mesoraco’s $13.125M salary. Mets paying remainder of Harvey’s $5.625M.

    Reply
  26. bobtillman

    7 years ago

    Lotsa comments for a mop-up reliever and backup catcher…….

    1
    Reply
    • camdenyards46

      7 years ago

      Well the mop up reliever(who also requires someone else to mop up his pitching performance) happens to a a former future ace.

      Reply
      • andrewf

        7 years ago

        Mark Prior 2.0? He sounds like Mark Prior all over again except Prior was better and less whiny.

        Reply
  27. AgeeHarrelsonJones

    7 years ago

    M. Harvey: “I shoulda gone to Vegas! Would have had more fun there!!”
    S. Boras: “Shut up you sniveling kid. Get your act together so I can get paid..”

    2
    Reply
    • jdgoat

      7 years ago

      Yes, I’m sure Boras is only looking out for himself

      2
      Reply
      • HubcapDiamondStarHalo

        7 years ago

        Well, he sure doesn’t work for free…

        1
        Reply
  28. swinging wood

    7 years ago

    Few worse parks to pitch in than in Cincy.

    Not to mention a number of sluggers in the NL Central..

    Should be an interesting experiment.

    4
    Reply
    • darkstar61

      7 years ago

      Ironically, the other option was the PCL – which is probably a worse place to pitch

      4
      Reply
  29. darkstar61

    7 years ago

    So much for the bidding war over his services some predicted

    1
    Reply
    • davidcoonce74

      7 years ago

      There clearly was; if there was a trade and Harvey wasn’t just released outright.

      1
      Reply
      • darkstar61

        7 years ago

        When you are traded for a guy on the verge of being released himself, there was not a bidding war for your services

        1
        Reply
        • davidcoonce74

          7 years ago

          The Reds weren’t releasing Mesoraco. Teams are always looking for catching. Obviously at least one other team was involved in trying to acquire Harvey’s services.

          Reply
        • mikeyank55

          7 years ago

          Good point coonce…teams are always looking for catching. However the Mets are hard up for catchers. They don’t have to be good. They can be mediocre. Even bad catchers would be considered as their’s have been an embarrassment.

          Reply
  30. mymaus

    7 years ago

    The only value Harvey has to the Reds is at the trade deadline and honestly I’d bet Meso would have been the better trade chip if he would have gotten more AB’s.. The only way I would have done this deal if I were the Reds is if it would have actually reduced my payroll.

    Reply
  31. bigjonliljon

    7 years ago

    Great deal for both clubs. Mets need catching help. And the Reds can afford to take a chance. I don’t think Harvey will rebound myself, but low risk on either side. I never expected any one would trade for him. Lol

    2
    Reply
  32. jakec77

    7 years ago

    Makes sense I guess. Mets get a catcher who, in the unlikely chance regains his former ability, is an upgrade; Reds get a pitcher who, in the unlikely chance he regains his former ability, is an upgrade. Most likely result is neither team is any better or worse.

    3
    Reply
  33. jmaggio76

    7 years ago

    what I absolutely love about this deal is that Harvey did not get to choose where he was going to go. Not only did he not want to go back to the minors but he was still left at the Mets disposal to choose where they were going to send him. And the fact that he went to a last-place club is just perfect! as for the catcher… I don’t mind. if he can hit to a .250 clip, I’ll be happy.

    1
    Reply
  34. carlos15

    7 years ago

    Meseraco will be a great addition to the Mets DL roster

    1
    Reply
    • camdenyards46

      7 years ago

      Lol your right

      Reply
  35. bobtillman

    7 years ago

    Really can’t see it from Reds’ point of view. They’re hung with Meseraco’s salary and got completely nothing (the Dork Night) for him….not even any salary relief…..hard to see Harvey being any better in the Great American Smallpark……

    Reply
    • HubcapDiamondStarHalo

      7 years ago

      Yeah, my first thought was, “Wow, the Reds are essentially paying $13+ million to have Harvey on their roster…”

      Reply
    • costergaard2

      7 years ago

      Dork Night + 1

      Reply
  36. takeyourbase

    7 years ago

    Holy moly the Reds must really want rid of Devin Mesoraco.

    Reply
    • c1234

      7 years ago

      It’s honestly not that bad they have Barnhart and they have a pitcher now that has had success

      Reply
  37. camdenyards46

    7 years ago

    Win win trade
    Reds have an awful pitching staff, so they can get someone to take a chance on
    Mets need a catcher after the D’arnaud and plawecki injuries

    Reply
  38. justin-turner overdrive

    7 years ago

    Dumbest trade for the Reds ever. What a stupid ass team.

    Reply
  39. scottaz

    7 years ago

    Shocked any MLB team would even consider Harvey, then again it’s an open question whether or not to consider Cincinnati a ML team?

    Reply
  40. 66TheNumberOfTheBest

    7 years ago

    What a great move for the Mets. Mesoraco was good once and might be again.

    Harvey was also good once, but…uh…

    A pitcher who is too stubborn to make changes going to an organization that has shown no ability to develop or rehabilitate pitchers in a long while who play in an absurdly HR friendly park seems less promising.

    Reply
  41. terror661

    7 years ago

    Wow! Reds huh…….. That’s a huge F you to Harvey who was stoked on the thought of being in San Francisco. Lol.

    Reply
  42. sfg415sfc

    7 years ago

    “Harvey’s Better!!” Haha what ever happened to that chant arrogant azz NY fans?! Hahahaha

    1
    Reply
  43. manos

    7 years ago

    Makes sense for both clubs.

    Reply
  44. Phoenixdownyjr

    7 years ago

    Welcome to the suck boys

    Reply
  45. mack22 2

    7 years ago

    For the last 3 years Harvey’s ERA has been terrible, not sure what the Reds are thinking

    Reply
    • aceofrainbows

      7 years ago

      He’s better than half their rotation.

      Reply
  46. ray_derek

    7 years ago

    LOL, why Reds, why?!?!?

    Reply
    • jdgoat

      7 years ago

      Low risk high reward

      Reply
      • ksoze

        7 years ago

        No risk, Mesoraco was just taking up a roster spot. May as well see if you can get lucky.

        Reply
  47. jd396

    7 years ago

    Out of the frying pan and into the toilet.

    Reply
    • lowtalker1

      7 years ago

      Actually he left the toilet and went to the dump. The Mets do play in flushing after all and the reds play next to a smelly river

      Reply
  48. brewcrewer

    7 years ago

    Good trade for both squads. Reds certainly won’t get worse and might as well check it out

    Reply
  49. TheAdrianBeltre

    7 years ago

    Trying to see the glass half full on this trade for the Reds, here goes. Most likely scenario: Harvey stinks, Reds let Harvey start anyway, Reds stink all season, get top pick. Other scenario: Harvey doesn’t stink, Reds trade Harvey for something(anything), Reds stink rest of season, get top pick.

    2
    Reply
    • darkstar61

      7 years ago

      Isn’t he roughly equal to the rest of the Reds staff he’d replace? Might be a wash on the on-field production side

      But one benifit is that they saved the close to 500k it would have cost them had they pursued him after he was a FA

      Reply
  50. sluman46953

    7 years ago

    good luck matt.. remember varagas era is worst then your . conlon stunk .. mets are a dead team.. ces cant hit .. conforto cant hit .. matt your in a better place.. after all who won today as you walked across the field..

    Reply
  51. metseventually 2

    7 years ago

    Just two terrible baseball organizations making a trade, nothing to see here.

    Reply
    • stratcrowder

      7 years ago

      Perfect post, metseventually.

      Reply
      • mikeyank55

        7 years ago

        It’s hard to believe that this early in the season that metseventually has put away his historical rhetoric and admitted that the Mets are a terrible baseball organization.

        Congratulations for the hard work you have done making this leap.

        Reply
  52. stratcrowder

    7 years ago

    I called for this trade on another thread early this morning….even though it’s pretty much a ho-hum deal.

    The Mets potentially fill a gaping hole at catcher, and the Reds accomplish (?) a few things. They get some short term depth in the rotation, in spite of needing that rotation spot to see if one of the young arms is capable of putting up quality MLB innings.

    As a Reds fan, I’m not in favor of this deal. As terrible as we’ve been, I don’t think moves like this are productive and is just another smokescreen by management to try and draw attention away from a completely disastrous rebuild.

    Reply
    • LongTimeFan1

      7 years ago

      Stratcrowder, Good move for your Reds. If Harvey regains some value, he can be traded for prospects. In the interim it may feed his ego working with some younger teammates knowing Harvey once was one of the best pitchers in the game. that might help the Reds youngsters if Harvey can control his bad behavior off field.

      Reply
      • stratcrowder

        7 years ago

        They’ll screw that up too.

        Reply
  53. BrianArendes

    7 years ago

    Now if we can just send Vargas and Robles off somewhere too. Vargas sucks…PERIOD!!!!! Robles has killed us every outing he has had over the past 2 years..

    Reply
  54. BrianArendes

    7 years ago

    13.86 ERA in 3 starts… no outing made it to 5th inning… Great Pick Up!!

    Reply
    • LongTimeFan1

      7 years ago

      Vargas was good signing byt Mets managed to screw it up by having him return prematurely from injury with barely any rehab games in minors.

      Reply
  55. sluman46953

    7 years ago

    how many mets hitters are hitting 250 or better.. you can count them on less then one hand .. what matters if a pitcher loses 9-0 or 1-0. still a lost. now how many pitchers has a era over 5 now i think you need two hands.. why is harvey the blame . im 59 years old mets fan since i knew baseball say around 1966.. this whole team and ownership is a f!#$ing disgrace. i have more passion for the early years then now. at least then the mets was suppose to lose every night. we were 10 and 1 this year the hitters hit the pitcher pitched. now this mets team cant beat my old high school and in indiana high school baseball sucks. its a basketball area.. all the conforto mendozaline hitter and ces fans he at 248. not good enuff for mega dollars. blame harvey if you choose but if you do your blind or stupid….

    Reply
    • darkstar61

      7 years ago

      Of all pitchers with at least 20 innings this season (currently 155 guys,) Harvey had the 12th worst ERA and 16th worst FIP

      Of pitchers with 200 innings since 2016 (144 guys,) Harvey has the 3rd worst ERA and 12th worst FIP

      That inability to pitch also came with a horrific attitude and no desire to work towards fixing things – yet you’re hyperventilating because the Mets correctly identified and actually dealt with the problem?

      Also, I recomend you don’t use BA to try to make a point about hitting, it makes it look like you think it’s 1918. Instead, reality is, of the 160 qualified hitters since 2016, Yoenis ranks 20th in OPS and 22nd in wRC+. So you screaming about a top 20 hitter not having a high enough BA to keep you off the ledge becomes comically pitiful

      1
      Reply
      • sluman46953

        7 years ago

        what he do for you last year . he home run or out..

        Reply
      • sluman46953

        7 years ago

        1st inning today .. batting out of order.. that how good the beloved mets are.. rc+ and all the other crap . its simple . the mets and the ownership .. management and plays suc…

        Reply
  56. bravesfan

    7 years ago

    I like this. Instead of going to abad team in Miami where he still has the life of living in Miami.. he goes to a really dull city and a bad team all in one. He earned himself this opportunity lol

    Reply
    • getright11

      7 years ago

      Says the guy who doesn’t know Jack about Cincinnati

      Reply
  57. chesteraarthur

    7 years ago

    Calling Devin Mesaraco a former star is quite the stretch

    Reply
  58. dvmwitt

    7 years ago

    Preller should have worked a trade for Headley

    Reply
  59. Z-A 2

    7 years ago

    Anyone calling Devin Mesoraco a MLB level contributor needs to get their head evaluated. This is a trash for trash trade. Only worked b/c each team is paying the full contract of the player traded. But this is like “change of scenery” will help.

    Reply
  60. ThatBallwasBryzzoed

    7 years ago

    From bad to worse for matt Harvey. Feel bad for him. In less than 3 years he fell off the table and flat on his face.

    Reply
  61. Sopro Found

    7 years ago

    While I’ve always liked Mesoraco, I kinda like this deal..while I’m pretty sure nobody expects to see the Harvey of old, maybe the change of scenery can shake something loose..not like we have anything to lose! As far as Meso..i hope the Mets medical staff is ready…

    Reply
  62. Spladler07

    7 years ago

    Wish Mes the best of luck.

    Hopefully Harvey can find somewhat of himself of the past and the Reds can flip him at the deadline for some kind of value.

    Reply
  63. davidcoonce74

    7 years ago

    I think it’s odd how many of these comments about Harvey are “he needs to work harder” or “maybe someone can fix what’s wrong between his ears” or etc. As if he’s working with the same skill set he came into the majors with. Harvey’s basically been groomed to be a professional athlete his entire life. He suffered two horrific injuries, probably in part because he’s been pitching year-round since he was a kid. Anyway, he had Tommy John surgery, which 75-80% of pitchers return from successfully. He returned successfully but blew by any kind of responsible innings limit in his first season back, then suffered the far more serious injury – as Steve pointed out in his MLBTR chat yesterday, almost no pitcher has recovered at all from Thoracic Outlet surgery, and certainly none have recovered long-term.

    Maybe Harvey is an arrogant jerk, as some people claim. I am quite dubious of mainstream media portrayals of athletes, for the most part, and selectively pulled quotes taken out of context don’t really interest me in any way. But I’m sure, as a person groomed hi whole life to do one thing, he probably is lacking in other skills in his life now that he isn’t able to do that one thing. Good luck to him; I doubt any team is going to fix him – he’s probably entering the Mark Prior or Brandon Webb stage of his career – and the vast majority of Major League Pitchers will never get a chance to pitch in a World Series, so good for him.

    1
    Reply
  64. sluman46953

    7 years ago

    to all the people talkig crap about cincinnati and the reds. they just beat the mets 2 out of 3… yeah !!!

    Reply
    • stansfield123

      7 years ago

      Two wins. Cool. So only sixty more to go, to avoid a 100 loss season.

      Reply
      • sluman46953

        7 years ago

        well mets were 10 and 1 .. since 8 and 16 … what that come to 33and a third.. thats about a 60 win season.. like someone told me the other day talking batting average. it not 1918 we dont use that anymore.. ok maybe if the mets keep a 33and a third . game win percent with the 10 and 1 start . well they win 59 to 60 games.. 1962 they won 40 lost 120. so 56 years later they are 19 or 20 games better..

        Reply
    • sluman46953

      7 years ago

      the high power new york mets has scored 21 runs in 10 games in the month of may..

      Reply
      • sluman46953

        7 years ago

        24 now in 10 games

        Reply
  65. stansfield123

    7 years ago

    So the Mets, a team in the biggest market in the world. went with the cheapest possible option at catcher. Great…it’s not like that’s an important position or anything. I’m sure a guy the Cincinatti Reds didn’t want anymore will get the job done. Who needs JT Realmuto when you can get the Reds’ backup to the backup catcher for free.

    Worst organization in sports. Possibly outside sports too, unless Enron is still in business.

    Reply
  66. sluman46953

    7 years ago

    looks like we have proof mets ownership management and there stupid fan base . are f$#@ stupid .. seaver turner murphy harvey. all traded queens new york . stupidville ..

    Reply
    • circaflex

      7 years ago

      Murphy nor Turner were traded. Try again.

      Reply

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