The Mets announced this afternoon that they’ve acquired right-hander Ariel Jurado from the Rangers in exchange for a player to be named later and (not or) cash considerations. Outfielder Ryan Cordell was designated for assignment to open a spot on the team’s 40-man roster. Jurado has been assigned to the Mets’ alternate training site in Brooklyn.
Jurado, 24, was designated by assignment in Texas back on Friday when the team selected Greg Bird and Jimmy Herget to the big league roster. The former top prospect has logged 177 innings with the Rangers over the past two seasons but struggled considerably at the MLB level. Opposing hitters have clobbered him for a 5.85 ERA and posted a combined .305/.351/.502 slash against him in 782 plate appearances. Jurado has averaged 5.2 K/9, 2.7 BB/9 and 1.42 HR/9 to go along with a 47.9 percent ground-ball rate.
Obviously, that’s not a pretty collection of numbers, but Jurado has a solid minor league track record. He’s largely skipped over Triple-A — though he pitched well in the 22 2/3 frames he did log there — but put together a more palatable 3.96 ERA with 5.6 K/9, 1.9 BB/9 and 0.92 HR/9 in 302 1/3 innings of Double-A ball. Baseball Prospectus rated Jurado as the game’s No. 72 prospect back in 2017, and he’s consistently generated ground-ball rates comfortably north of 51 percent. Infield defense isn’t exactly the Mets’ strength, of course, but the organization is in need of some pitching depth after seeing Noah Syndergaard (Tommy John surgery) and Marcus Stroman (calf tear) go down with injuries. Offseason additions Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha have both struggled early as well.
Cordell, 28, went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a pair of strikeouts in his short time with the Mets. Jake Marisnick’s hamstring injury opened the door for the former Rangers/White Sox/Brewers prospect to make the club as a reserve outfielder behind J.D. Davis, Brandon Nimmo and Michael Conforto. However, the Mets’ recent acquisition of Billy Hamilton apparently rendered Cordell superfluous in the club’s eyes.
Cordell has appeared in parts of three big league seasons, hitting a combined .205/.267/.333 in 291 trips to the dish. Those struggles notwithstanding, he’s put together a respectable minor league track record and is capable of playing all three outfield spots, so a club needing some depth might take a look at Cordell if he’s available on the waiver wire. New York will have a week to trade Cordell, release him or attempt to run him through waivers.
World series push is on
For the Rangers?
Well ya, the Mets can’t even keep track of their own team, how are they going to actually win a WS?
Don’t get the plan they gave up a prospect and will most likely cut this guy just like they did last year with the whole font disaster. BVW you’re getting played by the other gms
How about knowing who that player to be named later turns out to be before jumping to any conclusions?
I’m a Rangers fan. The Ariel shop has sailed in Arlington. I wouldn’t be surprised if a change of scenery made the difference. The talent and arm is there.
I too am a Ranger fan and season ticket holder, and I wonder if a change in pitching coach might be in order. He certainly has the talent.
This changes EVERYTHING
Actually a decent, if certainly not game changing trade. And a serious blow to those fans who inexplicably believed Cordell to be a long term piece. (Just today on another site someone had referred to Cordell as a keeper, not the first time I’ve heard such nonsense.)
Who? At least Cordell is gone.
why? I like Cordell. He’s made some impressive catches. I agree that Hamilton is better in CF, though.
Neither Cordell nor Hamilton should be getting any significant play if the team wants to win. Cordell is AAAA fodder, and Hamilton keeps getting let go by teams for a reason. He can’t hit.
Cordell was a fan favorite because of his Joe McEwing like attitude in Spring Training 1 & Spring Training 2 but Hamilton is a slightly better bench piece
Something else is on the horizon. Another infielder and outfielder. They will trade a pitcher to get what they need.Watch
We need little trades like this to start working out in our favor if we want to be a better run organization. Heck, the Rangers traded Peter Fairbanks to the Rays for Nick Solak last year, and now Solak is our contact driven 2nd baseman. That was great. A few years back we traded Keone Kela to Pitt for Apostel and Hearn who are both highly ranked in our farm. Little things need to start working out if we don’t want to go full on tank. (Though right now I am fully on board with trading Lance Lynn for a pretty big prospect haul).
BTW, I forgot about the Chris Martin for Kolby Allard trade last season, that was good too.
The hot stove is burning
I don’t think anyone on the Rangers is untouchable. They should even trade Elvis or Gallo for the right prospects.
Gallo needs to stay, still have to have a middle of the order bar and it’s not like he is old. I doubt they could find any takers for Elvis considering there isn’t a big demand for SS, but doesn’t hurt to shop him around. Lance Lynn I definitely think will be traded, he’s performing way too well for an underperforming team to not take advantage of his value. I could see a top 50 and a top 100 spec coming our way in a Lynn trade
Ur not getting that for Lynn, but i agree with the rest of ur assessment.
he is under a cheap contact and going back to last year had been fantastic. could definitely get that
That’s basically asking teams for their 2 best prospects for Lynn. Or 2 of their best 3. Either way, I doubt that’s happening.
Should have kept Cordell, dropped Zamora. He is useless now that he has to pitch to there guys. Especially with Marisiniak hurt.
Cordell is useless now that they have Hamilton. Who needs two CFrs who can’t hit?
Oh sorry. I was daydreaming about when Cohen closes the sale
He had slightly better numbers facing AAA hitters, because, well, they were AAA hitters.
The state of pitching in MLB is just bad. Guys being called on to pitch at the highest level who aren’t even playing games that weren’t even expected to make the majors 3 years from now. What could go wrong? I wonder what the over/under on TJ surgeries is for the year? Teams are going to blow through entire 35 man pitching staffs in a month. Then what?