The New York Mets announced that they have traded LHP Josh Smoker to the Pittsburgh Pirates for LHP Daniel Zamora and cash considerations. Smoker was designated for assignment last week to make room for Jose Reyes on the 40-man roster.
Smoker, 29, had a 5.11 ERA, 4.92 FIP, 1.70 WHIP and allowed ten home runs in 56.1 innings last season for the Mets. Though he did strike out 68 batters in those innings, and looked better down the stretch with a 2.63 second half ERA that included a dominant September in which he struck out 16 in 11.1 innings and held opponents to a .658 OPS.
The Mets bullpen now only has one left-handed reliever, Jerry Blevins.
You can read a Metsmerized Online exclusive interview with the now former Met here.
Zamora, 24, was drafted by the Pirates in the 40th round of the 2015 draft out of Stony Brook University. The reliever has a career 2.49 ERA in three minor league seasons, recording a 1.76 mark in 56.1 innings in 2017. He struck out 63 and walked 19, pitching to a 1.225 WHIP. He mostly pitched in A+ ball, bur recorded three scoreless innings at Double-A after a late-season promotion.
