Mets trade for A's starting pitcher Paul Blackburn

The Oakland Athletics traded their longest-tenured player, right-handed starting pitcher Paul Blackburn , to the New York Mets on Tuesday.

Right-handed pitching prospect Kade Morris was sent to the A's.

Blackburn, 30, was a 2022 All-Star and began the 2024 season with 22⅓ scoreless innings across four starts before finally surrendering his first run.

He will fill a need in the rotation for the Mets as ace Kodai Senga is unlikely to return during the regular season after suffering a left calf strain in his 2024 debut Friday night.

Blackburn was just activated from the 60-day injured list last week after recovering from a stress reaction in his right foot that caused him to miss more than two months.

He is 4-2 with a 4.41 ERA in nine starts this season, with 38 strikeouts over 51 innings. In eight seasons, spent entirely with Oakland, Blackburn is 21-26 with a 4.83 ERA over 81 games (77 starts).

Morris, 22, was a third-round pick by the Mets in the 2023 MLB draft. He has gone 0-3 with a 3.63 ERA in seven games (six starts) at Class-A St. Lucie this year.

Field Level Media contributed to this report.