New York Mets add bullpen, outfield depth in Cincinnati Reds trade
The New York Mets have acquired outfielder Tyler Naquin and relief pitcher Phillip Diehl in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds in an effort to boost depth for the National League East leaders heading into the MLB trade deadline.
In return, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand says that the Reds will receive minor leaguers right-hander Jose Acuna (currently at Low-A, just promoted from the Florida Complex League) and second baseman Hector Rodriguez (Florida Complex League) from the New York Mets, per source.
New York Mets make a trade with the Cincinnati Reds
The 31-year-old Naquin was in his second season as a member of the Reds, but has battled injuries through 2022, appearing in just 56 games so far this season with a slash line of .246/.305/.444 with seven home runs and 33 RBI. He capped off his time in Cincinnati in style, hitting a home run and driving in two in the Thursday matinee 7-6 home loss to the Miami Marlins that dropped the Reds to 38-60 on the season.
Last season, Naquin was a pleasant surprise for the Reds, hitting 19 homers and driving in 70 to post an OPS+ of 107, the second-highest mark of his career.
Naquin, the 15th overall pick in the 2012 MLB draft (selected by Cleveland, where he played his first five MLB seasons) has seen action only in right field (41 games) and served as the team’s designated hitter in 11 other contests this season. Last year, he played all three outfield positions for the Reds.
Meanwhile, Diehl has seen action in five games this season for the Reds, posting an 11.12 ERA/10.53 FIP/1.941 WHIP. The left-hander was designated for assignment on May 9, then sent outright to Triple-A Louisville on May 12. He has not been back at the MLB level since, and did not pitch at all in the Majors in 2021.
He has appeared in 21 MLB games totaling 19.0 innings since his 2019 debut.
Odds for Mets trade increasing for this reliever. dark. Next
Diehl was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 27th round of the 2016 MLB draft, but made his debut with the Colorado Rockies after being sent to Denver in the 2019 trade that landed Mike Tauchman in the Bronx.