NEW YORK (AP) — With the trade deadline drawing closer, the first-place New York Mets have been busy getting better from the left side of the plate.
New York acquired left-handed-hitting outfielder Tyler Naquin and lefty reliever Phillip Diehl from the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday night in a deal for two teenage minor leaguers.
Cincinnati received outfielder Hector Rodríguez and right-hander Jose Acuña.
It was the second time in seven days the Mets traded for a left-handed hitter with some pop. New York upgraded at DH last week, acquiring Daniel Vogelbach from the Pittsburgh Pirates for rookie reliever Colin Holderman.
Naquin, a first-round draft pick 10 years ago, was batting .246 with seven homers and 33 RBIs in 56 games for the Reds, who are last in the NL Central. He homered and drove in two runs Thursday afternoon in a 7-6 loss to the Miami Marlins.
“Definitely wish him well in his career, and going to a first-place club — that’s great for him,” Reds vice president and general manager Nick Krall said.
As the NL East leaders look to add offense before Tuesday’s trade deadline, Naquin provides depth for an outfield that already includes All-Star right fielder Starling Marte, center fielder Brandon Nimmo and left fielder Mark Canha.
Marte and Canha both bat right-handed. All-Star Jeff McNeil, a left-handed hitter, also plays left field occasionally when he’s not at second base.
The Mets view the 31-year-old Naquin as a good all-around player who can start a couple of times a week against right-handed pitching. They developed interest in him last month and talks intensified when the clubs began exchanging names a few days ago.
“We had several teams that had interest in Tyler, but this was what we felt was the best deal for him and we felt it added two quality players…
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