Mets trade LHP Vargas to Phillies

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The Phillies bolstered their beleaguered rotation.

Left-hander Jason Vargas was acquired from the Mets on July 29 for Double-A catcher Austin Bossart.

The 36-year-old Vargas is 6-5 with a 4.01 ERA, winning his last three starts. He became expendable when the Mets acquired righthander Marcus Stroman from Toronto on Sunday night for a pair of pitching prospects.

Vargas could start Aug. 2 against the White Sox on normal four days’ rest. Zach Eflin, who is scheduled to pitch that night, has a 10.46 ERA in his last six starts.

Vargas is owed $2,666,667 of his $8 million salary for the remainder of this season, and his contract includes an $8 million club option for 2020 with a $2 million buyout. He receives a $250,000 assignment bonus.

New York agreed to pay $666,667 to the Phillies to offset part of Vargas’ 2019 salary, with $333,333 payable Sept. 2 and $333,334 on Oct. 1, and $250,000 to offset the assignment bonus. In addition, the Mets will pay $2 million in 2020 to offset the salary or the buyout.

The Phillies were off Monday after losing two of three to the NL Eastleading Braves and falling 7½ games behind. But they’re only one game back second the second NL wild card heading into a three-game series against San Francisco starting July 30.

Vargas’ ERA would be second to Aaron Nola on Philadelphia’s staff and his WHIP (1.27) would rank first. Opponents are batting just .228 against Vargas despite a fastball that averages just 85 mph.

Vargas is 98-95 with a 4.26 ERA in 266 starts and 21 relief appearances with five big league teams. He won 18 games for the Royals in 2017 and was part of their World Series championship team in 2015.

Vargas and Mets manager Mickey Callaway were fined by the team last month for their profanity-filled confrontation with a reporter following a loss to the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

The 26-year-old Bossart is hitting .195 with seven homers and 28 RBI at Reading of the Eastern League. He was a 14th-round pick in the 2015 amateur draft from the University of Pennsylvania.

BREWERS DEAL FOR LYLES » Jordan Lyles is heading back to the Brewers, who are desperate for starting pitching as they try to repeat as NL Central champions.

The Brewers acquired the right-hander from the Pirates on July 29 for pitching prospect Cody Ponce, giving them a familiar name in their injury-depleted rotation. Lyles has struggled since the end of May.

“I’m definitely looking forward to a change,” Lyles said during a conference call. “This last month hasn’t gone in my favor. I’ve pitched poorly. We got off to a really good start, hot start, and kind of faced after some injuries here and there.”

Lyles worked out of the bullpen for Milwaukee last fall, going 1-0 with a 3.31 ERA in 11 appearances for the Brewers while helping the club win the NL Central title. Lyles translated his success with Milwaukee into a one-year contract with the Pirates and earned a spot in the starting rotation out of spring training.

He won five of his first six decisions, and then fell into a deep slump. He had a 9.58 ERA in eight starts since the end of May, leaving him 5-7 overall with a 5.36 ERA.

NFL

DOLPHINS FIRE O-LINE COACH » Dolphins firstyear offensive line coach Pat Flaherty has been fired and replaced by Dave DeGuglielmo, who had been an analyst for the coaching staff.

The changes July 29 came after four days of training camp drills.

Flaherty was hired in February by new head coach Brian Flores and was entering his 20th year of coaching in the NFL. He coached the offensive line for the Jaguars in 2017-18.

DeGuglielmo was the Dolphins’ offensive line coach in 2009-11 and rejoined their staff during the past offseason. In 2018 he was offensive line coach for the Colts.