Mets Acquire All-Star Paul Blackburn from Athletics for Kade Morris

Jul 30, 2024, 08:09 PM

The New York Mets have acquired right-handed starting pitcher Paul Blackburn from the Oakland Athletics. The deal, confirmed by multiple sources including ESPN's Jeff Passan, sees the Mets sending right-handed pitcher Kade Morris, their No. 26 prospect, to the Athletics in exchange. Blackburn, who missed much of this season due to a stress reaction in his right foot, has a 4.41 ERA in nine starts. He has team control through 2025, providing the Mets with a potential option for their rotation next year. Blackburn is known for his versatility, utilizing six different pitches with over 10% usage each, making him a dependable back-of-the-rotation arm. The trade is part of the Athletics' first deadline deals, which also included trading Lucas Erceg to the Royals. Blackburn has a surplus trade value of $2.6M, while Morris has a surplus trade value of $2.0M. Blackburn is also a former All-Star.