Grading all 7 Mets trade deadline moves

6) The New York Mets somehow got an interesting prospect in return for reliever Dominic Leone, as they took advantage of a desperate Los Angeles Angels team in need of relief.

Consider that Dominic Leone was picked up as an injury fill-in back in May, as someone to get the Mets through injuries of Brooks Raley and others. Leone was brutal in high-leverage situations this year, but he had to pitch in them because of the lack of depth in their bullpen. Leone had a 4.40 ERA in 30.2 innings pitched and a 94 ERA+, so he was a below average reliever.

Leone was never part of the Mets’ plans at the start of the season. Yet, he netted back one of the Angels’ top 30 prospects in shortstop Jeremiah Jackson, who is now No. 21 on the charts, because of the Angels’ desperate measures to win with Shohei Ohtani this year before Ohtani potentially bolts in free agency.

Jackson improved this season in Double-A, as he hit .248/.321/.447 in 82 games with 15 home runs and 21 stolen bases after last season was an injury-plagued one for him. He can hit the ball hard, and has shown more fielding versatility, getting at least 90 innings in five different positions this year, and could help the Mets out in the future as a super utility player if he is not traded again.

Billy Eppler recognized that the Angels were desperate to add bullpen depth and got a potential chip that could also be used in a later trade when his value goes up, while not having to give up a key player to get it. This was the best of the seven trades Eppler made this week.

Grade: A+