A second Mets trade deadline deal from 2017 may finally work out

The 2017 trade deadline saw the New York Mets unload a lot of veterans. Jay Bruce, Curtis Granderson, Neil Walker, and more were shipped away from Queens for mostly packages of minor league relievers we’ve all chosen to forget about.

One deal from that summer Mets fans can appreciate is the Lucas Duda for Drew Smith swap. Smith came over from the Tampa Bay Rays for the ex-Mets slugger and has steadily contributed more and more each year with the team.

Finally, in 2023, we may see another one of those trades work out. On July 31, 2017, the Mets sent reliever Addison Reed to the Boston Red Sox for Gerson Bautista, Jamie Callahan, and the star of the show, Stephen Nogosek. Hey, we still know that last guy.

The Mets trade for Stephen Nogosek in 2017 may finally turn into something

There is a disclaimer to put on this trade. Nogosek was actually granted free agency after the 2021 season. However, his familiarity with the Mets and theirs with him led to a reunion on a minor league pact last offseason. If not for the original trade which brought him to the Metropolitans, we wouldn’t be talking about how he’s a serious contender for the Opening Day roster and perhaps beyond.

Patience finally seemed to pay off last year when Nogosek delivered the goods in Triple-A and the majors. He was 2-0 with a 2.30 ERA in 43 Triple-A innings. At the majors, in 22 more, Nogosek was 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA.

Now 28, he’s no kid, but he’s also not a grizzled veteran. We think of someone like Bryce Montes de Oca as up-and-coming and yet he’ll turn 27 this April. For whatever reason, pitchers seem to take a little longer to reach their primes. In their world, 30 is the new 25.

Nogosek has much more to prove before awarding this a successful trade for the Mets. Less than two dozen quality innings last season isn’t quite enough. At least the team seems to be getting something out of the deal finally.