Right-handed pitcher Fernando Salas began the 2016 season with the Angels, where he had a 4.47 ERA in 56.1 innings pitched with the club. June was especially unkind to Salas as he let up 13 earned runs in 11.1 innings, which severely inflated his season’s statistics.
On August 31, the Mets traded for Salas, sending minor league right-hander Erik Manoah, their 13th round draft pick from 2014, to the Angels. At the time of the trade, it seemed as though the Mets were looking for a cheap option to eat some innings in the last month of the season, but Salas proved to be a valuable acquisition.
The change of scenery brought Salas much better fortune as he had a 2.08 ERA with 19 strikeouts and no walks in 17.1 innings with the Mets. Salas was prone to the home run—a problem he brought with him from Los Angeles—allowing three long balls in his short time in Queens. Nevertheless, he was as dependable as they come down the stretch of the season for New York in a heated Wild Card race.
Earlier this week, the Mets re-upped with Salas, signing him to a one-year deal worth $3 million for 2017.