Mets: An analysis of the Addison Reed trade to Boston

The Mets dealt their most valuable trade commodity to Boston and received three minor league pitchers in return

After days of rumors, the New York Mets executed a deal for reliever, Addison Reed with the Boston Red Sox pending physicals. In return, the Mets will receive three minor league pitchers: Stephen Nogosek (18^th in Red Sox system), Jamie Callahan (23^rd), and Gerson Bautista (28^th).

In total, Reed was linked to nearly a third of the league. Reed is still owed a little less than $3 million the rest of this season. The return price has volume, but the quality remains to be seen. The Mets did snag at least one pitcher who is close to the big leagues in Callahan. He could come into the picture in New York by some point in 2018.

Boston also insisted on paying the rest of Reed’s salary. According to a source cited by Matthew Cerrone, Boston preferred to pay out Reed’s remaining salary, which added more volume to the equation but allowed the Red Sox to keep their higher end prospects.

The Red Sox desperately needed to be active, especially in their bullpen. Boston already pulled off a deal for Eduardo Nunez to address their need at third base. Boston is 3-7 in their last 10 games and they haven’t won a series since coming out of the All-Star Break. That led to the Yankees surpassing them for the AL East lead over the weekend.

Reed was fantastic for the Mets since coming aboard and cost next to nothing. In 145 career games with the Mets, Reed posted a 2.09 ERA with 156 strikeouts over 142 innings. He allowed just 120 hits, 24 walks (six intentional), and 11 home runs with New York. This season, Reed took to the closer’s role and has flourished with 19 saves in 21 chances.

For the Mets, they continue to try to stockpile quality pitching depth in the minor leagues. Of the three pitchers Sandy Alderson and company received, only one (Callahan) is close to the Majors at this point. Nogosek is in his second year of pro ball after getting drafted in the 6^th round in 2016. Bautista’s career got a late start because of a 50-game suspension because of a positive test for an anabolic steroid. Bautista was in High-A Salem at the time of the trade.

Another angle the Mets are attacking is getting more hard throwing arms. This season’s bullpen has been filled with guys who top out in the low 90s at best. Their two hardest throwers were either lost to injury (Jeurys Familia) or demoted for a long stretch (Hansel Robles). All three prospects have fastballs that sit in the mid-90s and can touch even higher according to scouting reports.

Nogosek had 16 saves for Oregon in 2016 and was promoted to Salem during the season. He has 63 strikeouts over 53 innings logged this season. He has already racked up 19 saves between Greenville and Salem.

Callahan was moved to the bullpen full-time by 2016 after he struggled with control as a starter over his first three pro seasons. He earned a promotion to Triple-A Pawtucket after not allowing a walk in 13 innings at Double-A Portland.

Bautista has struggled with walks this season after dominating rookie ball and low-A competition. He has blown four saves for Salem, but has a big fastball that can reach 100 MPH and has 53 strikeouts to 45.1 innings pitched in 2017.

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The Mets may not be done yet with rumors still circulating around Jay Bruce, Curtis Granderson, and Asdrubal Cabrera among others. This trade however, can’t be fully analyzed until or if Bautista and Nogosek can provide the bullpen depth in the future Alderson and company are hoping for.