The New York Mets may be in the thick of the all-star break. However, president of baseball operations David Stearns is still making moves, including a modest deal with the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday that sent a veteran infielder to red and blue.
Rylan Bannon is headed for the Twins.
According to Ben Yoel, the Mets have dealt infielder Rylan Bannon to the Twins for an undisclosed sum, which is assumed to be cash.
Bannon, a former ranked prospect who was included in the trade that sent Manny Machado to the Los Angeles Dodgers, has only appeared in parts of two seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, Atlanta Braves, and Houston Astros, going 2-for-20 with a walk and eight strikeouts.
The Illinois native signed a minor league contract with the Mets in December and participated in 79 games for Triple-A Syracuse, batting.254/.392/.475 with 15 home runs and 57 RBIs, seven steals, and an astounding 60 walks, resulting in a 17.5% walk rate.
In Triple-A, Bannon played second base, third base, shortstop, and both outfield corners.
What exactly does this mean for the Mets?
Bannon’s trade may come as a surprise given how well he has been playing, but it makes sense.
There is a log jam in the major leagues at each of the spots the 28-year-old has played this season, and if vacancies arise, others are more likely to be called up than Bannon. Trading the Illinois native allows the Mets to acquire something in return for a player who is certain to leave in the offseason, even if it is only cash.
Furthermore, it frees up Bannon’s 342-plate appearances in the first half for other players who may make an impact in Flushing shortly.
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