Re-grading all 7 NY Mets trade deadline moves from last year

Josh Walker traded away - First Grade A+, New Grade A+

This only gets a re-grade because I graded it on July 30 last year. The Mets sent Josh Walker and his 5.11 ERA to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Nicolas Carreno. The fact that they were able to get anyone for him is a huge win. We cannot lower this from an A+.

Walker ended up getting released by the Pirates in mid-August and re-signed immediately after on a minor league deal. He never pitched for them in the majors and became a free agent in the offseason. The Toronto Blue Jays signed him and with a 7.20 ERA in the majors, traded him to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Walker has been okay in Lehigh Valley for the Phillies’ Triple-A team, pitching to a 3.50 ERA this season. What about the player the Mets got from Pittsburgh for him?

It doesn’t look like the Mets struck gold. Carreno has a 6.85 ERA in 22.1 innings in the FCL. The 19-year-old lefty has time to turn it around, but it hasn’t started off well against players outside of Rookie Ball.

The Mets were going to lose Walker for nothing. They got something. That’s winning by rolling down a hill and reaching the finish line.