The New York Mets got some help for their weary bullpen on Tuesday, acquiring RHP Phil Maton from the Tampa Bay Rays for cash or a player to be named later.
To make room on the 40-man roster, they have designated LHP Joey Lucchesi for assignment.
Maton, 31, has pitched in 40 games for the Rays this season, going 1-2 with a 4.58 ERA, 30 strikeouts, a 1.33 WHIP, and two saves in 35 1/3 innings. Over eight MLB seasons with San Diego, Cleveland, Houston, and Tampa Bay, he has a 4.28 ERA and 428 strikeouts in 382 1/3 IP over 384 games.
The righty is making $6.25 million this year and has a $7.75 million option with a $250,000 buyout for 2025, so the Mets will owe him about $3 million the rest of the way, and then make a $7.5 million decision on him at the end of 2024.
Lucchesi, 31, made one start for the Mets this season, allowing five runs over 4 1/3 innings. He has spent most of the year at Triple-A Syracuse, going 5-4 with a 4.20 ERA in 83 2/3 innings over 15 starts.
The Mets will have to make a 26-man roster move to add Maton when he reports.