Mets player traded on deadline day already DFA'd after one appearance in the minors

Undoubtedly the cleanest deal made by the New York Mets on trade deadline day, David Stearns sent recently DFA’d lefty reliever Josh Walker to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 29-year-old had reached a point with the Mets where he probably wasn’t going to turn things around swiftly. A 5.11 ERA in 12.1 innings this year wasn’t promising enough.

After just one appearance in Triple-A where he gave up 2 runs in the inning, the Pirates DFA’d Walker. He’ll now go through the waiver process all over again. This time, he won’t be eligible to be traded.

Walker could stick around with the Pirates if he passes through waivers. His age is the biggest turn-off and could have other clubs passing over in favor of other options they already have. We’ll find out early next.

What about the guy the Mets got for Josh Walker?

While we’re here, let’s see how Nicolas Carreno has done down on the farm.

An 18-year-old who had pitched to a 3.74 ERA in 21.2 innings in the Dominican Summer League, Carreno has had many of the same issues he did prior to the trade. He has made a pair of starts albeit short ones as they tend to do in the lower minor leagues. The first lasted 3 innings, included as many walks, and a single strikeout. A pair of earned runs scored against him.

Carreno made his second appearance on Friday. Lasting just 2.1 innings, he walked 3 more but added 3 strikeouts in another game featuring a pair of earned runs.

At his level, results aren’t the most important. It’s the mechanics and tools. Regardless of how he’s doing, the ability to get anything at all for Walker is still impressive; made more so by how little patience they even had for him.

Easily the most under-the-radar trade of July by the Mets, the quick hook by Pittsburgh makes this one worthwhile.