Tyler Clippard was traded to the Mets from Oakland, the teams announced Monday.
The Mets acquired the righthanded closer and cash considerations from the Oakland A’s in exchange for minor-league pitcher Casey Meisner.
Clippard, who is due $3.15 million for the remainder of the season, has 17 saves and 2.79 ERA for Oakland this season. In nine MLB seasons, including six starts with the Yankees in 2007, Clippard is 38-28 with a 2.87 ERA and 51 saves. He has 586 strikeouts in 529 2/3 innings.
Clippard adds depth to the Mets’ bullpen anchored by Jeurys Familia (27 saves, 1.70 ERA) and Jenrry Mejia. However, Mejia would not be eligible to pitch in the postseason should the Mets qualify because he was suspended 80 games earlier this season after testing positive for Stanozolol.
The Mets (51-48) trail the Washington Nationals by two games in the National League East. Both teams are off Monday night. The Mets will host the Nationals for a three-game series this weekend at Citi Field.
Clippard is the third player the Mets have traded for in the past several days. The Mets acquired Kelly Johnson, a lefthanded-hitting infielder and leftfielder, and Juan Uribe, a righthanded-hitting third baseman, from the Braves for a pair of minor-league pitchers Friday in an attempt to bolster an offense that is scoring a National League-worst 3.41 runs per game.
