The Mets have traded right-handed pitcher Gabriel Ynoa to the Baltimore Orioles for cash. Ynoa had a 6.38 ERA last year for the Mets over the span of 10 games and 18.1 innings late in the season. He was a relatively promising starting pitching prospect with a career 3.36 ERA over seven minor league seasons and 795.1 innings.
Ynoa figured to start the season in Triple-A for the Mets and possibly serve as depth either in the Mets’ starting rotation or bullpen. He was blocked as a starter by the Mets’ current starting five, plus Robert Gsellman and Seth Lugo.
This trade comes after fellow right-handed pitcher Logan Verrett was traded to the Orioles earlier in the offseason, also for cash. Ynoa’s removal from the 40-man roster clears a spot for Fernando Salas to be added. We had Ynoa ranked as the Mets’ 14th-best prospect coming into the 2017 season on our list of the team’s top twenty-five.