Mets steal pitcher from the Yankees in Rule 5 Draft

Mar 19, 2022; Sarasota, Florida, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Zach Greene (34) throws a pitch during the fourth inning against the Baltimore Orioles during spring training at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Despite the big news that the New York Yankees will retain superstar slugger Aaron Judge, the Rule 5 Draft commenced on Wednesday night, in which the New York Mets immediately targeted one of the Yankees’ top young available prospects.

With the Mets’ first-round pick, they selected Zach Greene from the Yankees, who featured with Scranton Wilkes-Barre in Triple-A this past season.

The Mets selected pitcher Zach Greene from the Yankees in the first round of the Rule 5 Draft. He struck out 96 batters in 68.1 innings at Triple-A last year.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) December 7, 2022

The Yankees might’ve had something in Zach Greene:

Greene, a 26-year-old relief pitcher out of Jacksonville, Florida, hosted a 3.42 ERA this past season over 68.1 innings.

Specifically, he hosted a 4.20 FIP, 3.55 xFIP, a 33.3% strikeout rate, 11.1% walk rate, and 43.2% ground ball rate, giving up 1.45 home runs per nine. Greene seems to be a solid bullpen arm with potential, notably since the Yankees would’ve preferred to keep having been drafted out of South Alabama back in 2019.

Zach was slowly developing his game, spending the past few seasons rising through the Yankees’ farm system before finally reaching Triple-A.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Yankees looked to steal another prospect from a different team to fill the absence of Greene with Scranton.