Re-grading all 6 Mets trade deadline deals from 2023

4) The Mets trade Dominic Leone to the Angels for Jeremiah Jackson

The lowest key deal of the deadline was the one which sent reliever Dominic Leone to the Los Angeles Angels. The second deal made by the Mets and Angels of the summer with the first being the Eduardo Escobar swap in late June, this one feels like an unquestioned Mets victory. To get any sort of promising young player for Leone needs to be graded well.

Leone had a 4.40 ERA with the Mets in 30.2 innings and was always on the fringes of getting DFA’d. Upon joining the Angels, he’d appear in only 13 innings and finish with a 5.54 ERA during their collapse. He’d finish off the year with the Seattle Mariners. 

The Angels are already left with nothing from this deal. Meanwhile, the Mets have the intrigue of whether or not Jeremiah Jackson can turn into a steady major league player.

Jackson, who turns 24 right before Opening Day, didn’t quite meet the expectations the Angels had for him. He has struggled to hit for average and his OBP numbers aren’t great either. A capable power hitter, he had a bit of a resurgent year in 2023 even while still under their control. Jackson hit 15 home runs and stole 21 bases before the trade. He hit another 7 and swiped 6 more for the Mets while more notably increasing all three of the slash line numbers.

A utility man at the moment, Jackson is probably going to at best be a bat off the bench. It’s impossible to envision him being an everyday player for the Mets. Another good year and perhaps he’s trade bait. 

Regardless, this is a trade the Mets undoubtedly scored as the winners.

Grade: A