4 NY Mets trades that, if reversed, could help them out this season

3) Justin Slaten to the Red Sox

A member of the Mets for less than 24 hours, Justin Slaten was a Rule 5 Draft pick in December of 2023 but quickly moved in a trade with the Boston Red Sox for minor leaguer Ryan Ammons. Because of his Rule 5 selection, the Red Sox were forced to keep him on their big league roster for the full season or offer him back to the Texas Rangers—the team that let him become available. Slaten was brilliant enough throughout the year for the thought to never occur to the Red Sox.

This year, with no chain to the big league roster, the Red Sox continue to get satisfying results out of Slaten. Everyone could use a relief pitcher like him on their roster. Surely, if the Mets had a hint that he’d be this good this immediately, they might have tempted fate by keeping him around in 2024.

Slaten is currently on the IL with a shoulder injury with his last game taking place at the end of May. Even with this in mind, he was tracking well to begin the year. A 3.47 ERA in 23.1 innings is deceptive for how good he actually had been. Although a tame 6.2 K/9, his 0.90 WHIP more than made up for the lack of strikeouts. This all came a season after posting a 2.93 ERA in 55.1 innings as a rookie for the Red Sox.

Available to be optioned to the minor leagues, Slaten would have been an incredibly useful member of the Mets bullpen.