Mets acquire LHP Daniel Zamora and cash from Pirates for LHP Josh Smoker

After re-signing Jose Reyes last week, the Mets had to make room on their 40-man roster, and designated relief pitcher Josh Smoker for assignment. Today, the Mets traded Smoker to the Pittsburgh Pirates for left handed minor league relief pitcher Daniel Zamora and cash considerations.

Zamora, a 24 year old California native, pitched for Stony Brook University before being drafted by the Pirates in the 40th round of the 2015 draft. In 2017, his second full professional season, he pitched 53 and a third innings for Single-A Bradenton, where he struck out 61 and walked only 17. In 37 games, he only gave up two home runs, hit one batsman, and threw one wild pitch.

At the end of the season, Zamora pitched in two games for the Double-A Altoona Curve, where he gave up two hits and two walks, while striking out two, across three innings.

Smoker, a former first round draft pick for the Nationals, logged over 70 innings across two seasons for the Mets. Smoker’s raw tools never quite coalesced in the way the Mets hoped, though he found some success with New York. While he was adept at striking out batters (10.9 per nine innings in 2017), he also gave up a fair amounts of walks (5.1 per nine) and home runs (1.6 per nine) as well.

The amount of cash being exchanged in the deal has not yet been made public.