Update 8/29, 5:45 PM by Satish Ram
The Mets announced earlier on Twitter that Victor Black was the PTBNL in the deal that saw the Mets send Marlon Byrd, John Buck, and cash to the Pirates. This was old news, however, as speculation ran rampant as soon as the trade was announced.
The new news, coming via Adam Rubin, is that the Mets are working with a technicality that allows Black to take 72 hours to report to his new team. This will allow him to report directly to the Mets on September 1st with the roster expansion and bypass the trouble of going to Vegas for a day.
So yes, it looks like Vic Black has gone through the process to get to the Mets and those anxious to see the return of the trade will be pleased very soon. Black should be an excellent addition to our bullpen that is currently missing Parnell and he could become an interim closer if he enjoys success.
Original Post
According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, right-handed reliever Vic Black is the Player to be Named Later that will complete the trade that sent John Buck and Marlon Byrd to the Pirates for Dilson Herrera.
Black is currently on waivers and is expected to clear tomorrow, but the Pirates intend to send Black to the Mets at the end of the season.
Black reportedly is on waivers. If he goes unclaimed, the deal can be completed now. If he is claimed, he will need to be pulled back and be sent to the Mets after the season.
Black, 25, was the 49th overall pick in the 2009 draft out of Dallas Baptist University. John Sickels had the following to say about him last week:
Unlike many minor league closers, Black does not want for stuff: he has one of the best fastballs in the system, clocked as high as 101 MPH in the minors; he hit 98 during his major league trial and averaged 95. A supplemental first round pick in 2009 out of Dallas Baptist, he struggled with control problems, a substandard change-up, and persistent arm trouble early in his career and at one point looked like a bust.
He revived his career by converting to relief, posting an excellent 1.65 ERA with an 85/29 K/BB in 60 innings with 13 saves last year in Double-A, followed by consistent success this year. He’s had fewer problems throwing strikes and staying healthy with relief use, doesn’t have to worry about the change-up, and can just come in and blow people away for an inning or two with his fastball and a slider that can touch 90.
MiLB.com ranked him as the sixth-best pitching prospect in the Pirates system.
Black is 5-3 with a 2.51 ERA and had 17 saves in 38 relief appearances with Triple-A Indianapolis this season.
