Mets trade Matt Harvey to Reds for Devin Mesoraco

The Mets have traded Matt Harvey to the Reds for catcher Devin Mesoraco. The team had designated Harvey for assignment on Saturday after he declined to accept a minor league assignment after struggling mightily in both the starting rotation and the Mets’ bullpen. Harvey now joins the worst team in baseball—the one the Mets happen to be facing right now.

In Mesoraco, the Mets get a catcher who had struggled to stay on the field but had flashed offensive potential in the past. He was particularly great in 2014, as he hit .273/.359/.534 with 25 home runs. His career numbers aren’t nearly as good, but he does own a .234/.309/.405 line with a 94 wRC+ and a .172 isolated slugging, a good indicator of power hitting. He’s a roll of the dice, but he’s certainly better than not getting anything for Harvey and should be an upgrade at the plate over both Jose Lobaton and Tomas Nido.

Mesoraco is in the final season of a four-year, $28 million deal he had signed with the Reds. Ken Rosenthal says both teams will pay the remainder of each player’s salary, with the Mets picking up Harvey’s $5.625 million and the Reds picking up Mesoraco’s $13.125 million.