The New York Mets acquired outfielder Yoenis Cespedes on Friday in a trade with the Detroit Tigers.
The trade was completed just before Friday’s 4pm non-waiver trade deadline. The Mets have sent minor league pitchers Michael Fulmer and Luis Cessa to the Tigers in exchange for Cespedes, according to the Associated Press. The Mets were able to get Cespedes without having to get rid of injured starting pitcher Zack Wheeler. The Mets are excited about Cespedes joining their team.
"When all is said and done, to have somebody walk in the clubhouse that's a legitimate, run-producing, big-time name, I think it's gonna create a lot of energy in our clubhouse," Mets manager Terry Collins said, the New York Daily News notes. "I just know from talking to other people, what an impact he can make."
Cespedes is in the final year of his contract. The Mets will be his fourth team since 2014 after the Oakland Athletics traded him to the Boston Red Sox last year. The Red Sox traded him to the Tigers in the offseason. He is hitting .293 with 18 homeruns this season, according to ESPN. Cespedes has 61 RBIs this season and a slugging percentage of .564 in July.
Fulmer was the number seven prospect in the Mets organization while Cessa was the 16th ranked prospect. Fulmer is 6-2 with a 1.88 ERA in 15 starts for Double-A Binghamton this season, MLB.com notes. Cessa is 7-7 with a 3.98 ERA slit between Binghamton and Triple-A Las Vegas.
The Mets are three games back of the first-place Washington Nationals in the NL East.