This NY Mets trade deadline deal has already served its purpose for both teams

Can Clay Holmes and Tyrone Taylor help the Chicago Cubs win a championship? Will A.J. Minter help the Minnesota Twins claw back into relevancy? Is there a disgustingly perfect October in Brooks Raley’s future with the Philadelphia Phillies? The New York Mets sold a lot of pieces and the final grades for all of those trades will take years to develop.

One may have already served its complete purpose.

Easily the smallest Mets trade deadline deal of all was sending Ben Rortvedt to the Los Angeles Dodgers. They DFA’d him earlier this week on a day when both Will Smith and Dalton Rushing were activated from the IL. Rortvedt was never in the Dodgers’ plans to play in the postseason. He was meant to play some defense, handle the pitching staff, and make sure the Dodgers weren’t losing games because of the catching situation. The player the Mets got back for him is only a few weeks away from a similar fate, too.

The Mets-Dodgers trade deadline deal is close to its conclusion

Rortvedt slashed an even .185/.185/.185 for the Dodgers in 16 games. He wasn’t there to slug any home runs. Known for defense and a bat that has flattened out to give him a career MLB batting average of .189, he’s at the point of his career where he’ll bounce around from team-to-team on minor league deals, through waivers, and other means. The same future is what Chayce McDermott will experience.

McDermott was in DFA limbo when the Dodgers sent him to the Mets for Rortvedt. Also 28-years-old, like Rortvedt, his big league playing time has been far more limited. Only 20.1 innings in the big leagues and a 10.18 ERA overall, the brief tryout with the Mets these past weeks hasn’t been good enough to even consider him for more than minor league depth.

McDermott has minor league options this year. However, with that one dried up after this season, he’s an obvious non-tender candidate.

McDermott’s 5.06 ERA in 3 games came with 4 walks in 5.1 innings, a home run allowed, and clarity on where his limitations are. After debuting with 2 shutout innings against the Cleveland Guardians, McDermott was more the pitcher the Mets probably already knew he was. 

Used to eat some innings in two losses, McDermott has been the typical David Stearns project that includes a high walk rate with loads of strikeouts. In his minor league career he’s at 5.7 BB/9 and 12.6 K/9. That hunt to have a reliever tame his control and become a quality bullpen arm remains the white whale of the current Mets regime. Jefry Yan is one getting the longest look in the majors. Thus far, with 7.4 BB/9 and 10.6 K/9, we’re seeing how hard that is.

It was always a longshot McDermott would end up as more than a bullpen innings eater for the Mets. If only he had optionality beyond this year, maybe there would be something to work with. Instead, it’s make-or-break for McDermott on any roster he sits. Rortvedt managed to pass through waivers successfully and has been outrighted to the minors.

Most trade deadline deals take until at least when both teams are eliminated to have an idea of the outcome. This trade is a rare one where we can jump to conclusions.

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