Mets get Cespedes right on deadline
Impact of second wild card makes trading a must
NEW YORK — The New York Mets finally landed the bat they were looking for in Yoenis Cespedes just ahead of the 4 p.m. trade deadline Friday, and Cole Hamels confirmed he blocked a trade to Houston before Philadelphia dealt its ace to Texas.
Sixteen trades were made ahead of the annual deadline for deals without waivers. Hamels was the only top starting pitcher dealt after earlier trades that sent Scott Kazmir to Houston, Johnny Cueto to Kansas City and David Price to Toronto.
Eleven of 15 American league teams began the day within five games of a playoff berth, and seven of 15 in the National League, where the races are more defined.
“There are a lot of buyers out there,” Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said. “And that probably has something to do with the second wild card, and maybe just the reality of that second wild card has sunk in, and the tightness of various races around both leagues.”
Cespedes, eligible for free agency after this season, hit .293 with 18 home runs and 61 RBIs in 102 games for the Tigers. Seeking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2006, the Mets have a talented starting rotation but rank last in the majors in runs and batting average, and 29th in on-base percentage and slugging.
“He’s a very dynamic player,” Alderson said. “We think he’s going to impact us in a number of different ways. But I think also just his presence in the lineup and his presence on the team will raise the energy level — and I hope it raises the energy level in the dugout and in the stands.”
“When you’re in the hunt, what you want is general managers on your team to be somewhat aggressive,” injured third baseman David Wright said as news of the Cespedes trade was breaking. “And it seems like Sandy has done that. So give him credit.”
Texas completed its deal to acquire Hamels and lefthanded reliever Jake Diekman for left-hander Matt Harrison and five prospects.
Hamels, 6-7 with a 3.64 ERA, figures to be part of a rotation next year with Japanese ace Yu Darvish, who had Tommy John surgery in March. Hamels, who had a limited no-trade provision, vetoed a deal to the AL West-leading Houston Astros.
“You don’t want to say no to anybody and you don’t want to let a city down or an organization down,” Hamels said. “But you want to do what’s best not just for my baseball career, but for my family.”
Philadelphia got Class AA catcher Jorge Alfaro, outfielder Nick Williams and right-hander Jake Thompson — three of the Rangers’ top prospects — and Class AAA right-handers Jerad Eickhoff and Alec Asher.
“We’re in a world where teams are buying talent. This is one of the ways we can use our economic muscle to buy talent,” Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said.
Toronto acquired righthander Mark Lowe from Seattle and outfielder Ben Revere from Philadelphia, following up on deals for All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, reliever LaTroy Hawkins and David Price.
“We’re excited and I love the fact that we were in a position to do some things and be this close,” Toronto general manager Alex Anthopoulos said.