New York Mets trade for Frazier, Chirinos and Castro prior to the deadline

Just when it looked like the New York Mets were going to make no trades prior to the deadline, they came through with a couple of promising deals. No, they aren’t particularly flashy, but they could help the team in their pursuit of October baseball in a day in which they fell to 15-20 with their best man, Jacob deGrom, in the mound.

The Mets were said to be looking for a starter, a catcher and some bullpen help. And, as it turns out, they added one reliever, one backstop and a familiar infielder, as the team announced shortly after the deadline passed.

The New York Mets got infielder Todd Frazier and catcher Robinson Chirinos from the Texas Rangers for a couple of players to be named later. In a separate deal with the Baltimore Orioles, they received reliever Miguel Castro in exchange of left-handed pitching prospect Kevin Smith and another player to be named later or cash considerations.

The loss of Smith hurts, as he was the Mets’ 12th-ranked prospect and had already reached Double-A. But the team needed a reliever to keep its October dreams and got a good one in Castro, who currently has a 4.02 ERA in 16 games and 15 2/3 innings, with 24 strikeouts and a sinking fastball that averages 98 miles per hour.

A Mets’ old friend

Frazier was the starter at third base in 2018 and 2019, and will offer depth to the Mets’ infield, a power bat and a good clubhouse presence. “He’s always welcome here in the clubhouse,” Mets first baseman Pete Alonso said of Frazier to MLB.com.

Frazier has an underwhelming .241 average as a whole in 2019, but the number goes up to .343 against lefties.

Chirinos, meanwhile, comes to New York to offer another capable, experienced body in the demanding catcher position, as Wilson Ramos is struggling at the plate. Remember that usual backup Tomas Nido is on the injured list.

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