The New York Mets had themselves quite a busy week in the lead-up to the trade deadline. They made plenty of moves, but one that could make the most impact is their acquisition of starting pitcher Paul Blackburn from the Oakland Athletics. Trading for Blackburn shows that the Mets are attempting to bolster a pitching staff that has not quite gotten the job done on a consistent basis outside of Sean Manaea and Luis Severino.
Blackburn isn’t what someone would call a top of the rotation starter. He projects as more of a back-end, veteran piece to round out the rotation, so it’s not like acquiring the 30-year-old starter vaults the Mets, a team that’s currently in second place in the congested NL Wild Card picture, into surefire playoff territory. But for his former Athletics teammate in Manaea, Blackburn’s professionalism and consistency would help give the Mets some much-needed rotation stability.
The New York Mets were very active in the days leading up to the trade deadline, making several moves. Among them, acquiring starting pitcher Paul Blackburn from the Oakland Athletics could be the most impactful. This trade suggests that the Mets are working to strengthen their pitching lineup, which has struggled to perform consistently except for Sean Manaea and Luis Severino.
While Blackburn might not be a standout ace, he is expected to be a reliable back-end starter who can add depth to the rotation. His arrival won’t necessarily guarantee the Mets a playoff spot, especially since they are currently in second place in the tightly contested NL Wild Card race. However, Blackburn’s experience and reliability are seen as a positive addition to the rotation, offering some much-needed stability for the Mets.
Manaea, who used to be Blackburn’s teammate with the Athletics, can especially benefit from Blackburn’s solid work ethic and dependable performance. This trade aims to provide the Mets with greater consistency in their pitching staff, which could be crucial as they push towards securing a playoff berth.
