New York continues its deadline fire sale, sending the standout reliever to Pittsburgh for a top infield prospect as the Pirates bolster their bullpen for a postseason push.
The New York Mets are unloading the roster ahead of the trade deadline on Monday evening.
It began a while ago when pitcher David Peterson was traded to the Chicago Cubs, and it was expected that several other players would be moved by Monday's deadline.
Then, the Mets traded left-handed reliever A.J. Minter to the Minnesota Twins. Over the weekend, starting pitcher Freddy Peralta was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays for three prospects.
Relief pitcher Huascar Brazobán was also traded to the Chicago White Sox on Sunday night.
Fellow left-handed reliever Brooks Raley was traded earlier on Monday to the Philadelphia Phillies, and another trade came hours before the deadline: This time with Luke Weaver leaving Queens.
ESPN's Jorge Castillo first reported that Weaver was being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, a team that is in the playoff hunt and has made it known they are trying to add bullpen help ahead of the deadline.
In exchange, the Mets are receiving one prospect, High-A shortstop Sammy Stafura.
According to MLB Pipeline, Stafura is Pittsburgh's No. 9 prospect in the system, and he brings a lot of talent at the plate as well.
Weaver, meanwhile, is a big boost to Pittsburgh's bullpen.
Weaver has a 2-1 record with a 1.84 ERA in 42 appearances for the Mets. He has spent time with each of the St. Louis Cardinals, Arizona Diamondbacks, Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees before coming to the Mets.
Weaver signed a two-year, $22 million contract this past offseason, but the Mets are in firesale mode and are more likely going to rebuild around stars such as Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto this offseason.
At the same time, manager Carlos Mendoza was fired, so New York is also set to bring in a new manager, as a lot of changes are going to be taking place in Queens.
Weaver was regarded as one of the best relievers in the market, especially with the San Diego Padres looking unlikely to trade either one of Adrian Morejon and Mason Miller.
Could the Mets have gotten more for Weaver? That is unclear, but Stafura is a talented prospect in the Pirates system, and Weaver is having the best year of his career after registering a 3.62 ERA with the Yankees a season ago, so it could be a one-off scenario here.
The Mets likely aren't done making trades, either.
