Paul Blackburn lands with NY Mets rival in bizarre turn of events after DFA

One of the notable players the New York Mets acquired at the 2024 trade deadline has ended in an interesting turn of events. The Mets designated Paul Blackburn for assignment on August 15, then put him on release waivers a few days later.

Since then, Blackburn has cleared waivers and hit free agency. However, it didn’t take him long to find a new team. Now, he has signed on with the Mets’ crosstown rivals, the New York Yankees, inking a Major League deal.

The Blackburn trade has been an ill-fated swap for the Mets. From 2022 up until the time of the trade, Blackburn posted a 4.36 ERA, 4.19 FIP, and 1.36 WHIP over 266 innings of work for the Oakland Athletics. Blackburn had a better-than-average 7.6% walk rate, 87.8 MPH exit velocity, and 7.6% barrel rate, with a respectable 1.15 HR/9 ratio. But he did not induce many strikeouts, with a 20.3% K%. He made the All-Star game in 2022 despite putting up numbers like a back-of-the-rotation arm.

The Mets hoped that Blackburn would add some stability to the back of their rotation, but his first impression with his new team did not go very well. He only pitched 24 1/3 innings, allowing 14 earned runs (with four home runs). While Blackburn only walked seven batters, he struck out just 21. But his season was cut short in late August. He first suffered a bruise after taking a comebacker off his right hand. But a more severe ailment would arise in September, as he dealt with a spinal fluid leak and underwent a surgical procedure in October.

Paul Blackburn's Mets tenure ends as he joins Yankees on MLB deal

Blackburn appeared to be ready for a new season in spring training, as he appeared in five games, all as a starting pitcher. But yet another roadblock impeded Blackburn’s return to the mound, as he began the year on the IL with right knee inflammation. It would not be until June that Blackburn made his way back to MLB. Blackburn has since pitched 23 2/3 additional innings, struggling just as badly as last year, allowing 18 earned runs. This also included a third injury list stint with a shoulder impingement, which caused him to miss all of July.

Blackburn also reportedly had some trade interest surrounding him, but was ultimately not moved, despite his lackluster numbers, injury history, and the Mets' depth chart. When the Mets promoted Nolan McLean, Blackburn would return to a relief pitching role, but that obviously didn't last long.

Blackburn’s tenure with the Mets doesn’t just end on a sour note, but also in an unconvential manner. His new club, the Yankees, makes this small move somewhat notable, given the obvious rivalry and the constant player swaps we see between the two sides.