The Mets have traded John Buck and Marlon Byrd and cash considerations to the Pittsburgh Pirates for 19-year-old Single-A second baseman Dilson Herrera and a player to be named later, according to ESPN New York.
Herrera is the 20th best prospect in the Pirates minor leagues according to Baseball America and 11th best according to MiLB.com who also ranked him just behind Wilmer Flores as the ninth best second baseman.
Herrera is playing his first full season in Single-A, where he is batting .265/.330/.421 with 11 home runs, 27 doubles and 11 stolen bases in 109 games. He played in the MLB Futures Game, where he was the second-youngest player selected.
The 5-10, 182-pound native of Cartagena, Colombia signed as an undrafted free agent with the Pirates in 2010 and made his professional debut the next season in the Venezuelan Summer League. Herrera, who throws and hits righthanded, has hit .281 (243-864) with 21 home runs and 112 RBI in 234 minor league games.
Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com recently said he could see Herrera in the big leagues by 2016, and Baseball America recently called him the best defensive second baseman in the South Atlantic League.
Here is a recent article on him.
Ironically, tonight is Marlon Byrd T-Shirt Night at Citi Field…
Obviously, catcher Anthony Recker, outfielder Matt den Dekker and left-hander Robert Carson are all activated for tonight as Rubin first reported this morning…
10:00 AM Update
Adam Rubin heard through the grapevine that Marlon Byrd was claimed off waivers.
The Mets can either pull him back or work out a deal with that one team.
8:30 AM Update
From Rubin:
Among the candidates to be traded are catcher John Buck, outfielder Marlon Byrd and left-handed reliever Pedro Feliciano. A source with knowledge of the Mets’ plans added that major league players under the organization’s control beyond this season also are being included in discussions of potential trades.
The Mets have moved catcher Anthony Recker, outfielder Matt den Dekker and left-hander Robert Carson from Triple-A Las Vegas to New York to have players available should a trade or trades be consummated.
Looks like we may finish the month of August with a bit of some activity…
8:00 AM Update
According to his sources, Adam Rubin of ESPN New York is reporting that the Mets plan to promote left-hander Robert Carson and outfielder Matt den Dekker to the majors from Triple-A Las Vegas. And although none of these moves have been officially announced.as of yet, Anthony Recker is also believed to be joining the group as well.
One spot will be opened with Matt Harvey soon to be placed on the DL, but as for the other two spots, Rubin speculates that it could signal something involving John Buck.
If Recker is getting the call, I would agree that Buck could be on the way out with just five days left to make a waiver trade.
Let me also throw in my own speculation and say that it could mean LaTroy Hawkins might also be involved in a waiver-wire deal to clear up that third spot.
The Mets won’t get much for either of them, and in fact it may end up being for players to be named later. But with the prospect of being mathematically eliminated only days away, it would make some sense for the Mets to try and get anything for two players who most assuredly will not be back in 2014.
