Here are the Mets’ roster moves to get their new additions on their active roster.
The Mets have activated right-handed relief pitcher Ryan Helsley and center fielder Cedric Mullins, both of whom join recent additions Gregory Soto and Tyler Rogers on the Mets’ active roster. And in a corresponding roster move, the Mets optioned infielder Luisangel Acuña to Triple-A Syracuse.
The Mets sent three minor league relievers to the Orioles for Mullins in their final trade before the deadline yesterday. The 30-year-old is a left-handed hitter and has hit .229/.305/.433 with a 104 wRC+ in 355 plate appearances this year with the Orioles, the only team he’s ever played for in his major league career. He’s earned 1.2 fWAR over that span.
Helsley has served as the Cardinals’ closer, having racked up 49 saves with an outstanding 2.04 ERA in 66.1 innings of work last year. This year, he’s still been very good, but he’s currently sporting a 3.00 ERA in 36.0 innings with a 3.51 FIP that’s the highest single-season mark of his since the start of the 2022 season. He’s still a massive upgrade over many of the relievers the Mets had been sending out over the past couple of months.
And Acuña has hit just .239./.295/.283 with zero home runs, 12 stolen bases, and a 69 wRC+ in 175 major league plate appearances this year. It wouldn’t have been surprising to see the Mets option Brett Baty instead to keep Acuña around for defense and speed, but the decision to keep Baty up for now is certainly justifiable.