Mets finalizing trade to acquire dependable Athletics All-Star

In an effort to continue their playoff push, the New York Mets have acquired a consistent and dependable All-Star pitcher.

Currently sitting in the second Wild Card spot, the Mets are looking to make a push for the 2024 playoffs. However, they face a major setback after two starters, Christian Scott and Kodai Senga, were recently injured.

In order to add depth to their rotation, New York is striking a deal with the Oakland Athletics for right-handed pitcher Paul Blackburn. The trade was originally reported by Joel Sherman of the New York Post and later confirmed by Jeff Passan of ESPN .

While Blackburn has also spent a significant amount of the season on the injured list, he was recently reinstated into the rotation against the Los Angeles Angels.

Blackburn was originally drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2012 before being traded to the Seattle Mariners Double-A team, the Jackson Generals. He was soon traded to the Athletics where he would make his Major League Baseball debut in 2017.

In his time at Oakland, Blackburn had a 20-26 win-loss record with a 4.8 ERA and 306 strikeouts. He was the sole representative for the Athletics in the 2022 All-Star game.

In exchange for Blackburn, Oakland will receive pitcher Kade Morris, the No. 26 prospect in the New York farm system. Across his minor league career, Morris boasts a 3.51 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 92.3 innings.

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