Desperate for help in a failing bullpen, the New York Mets acquired reliever Brooks Pounders from the Cleveland Indians for cash on Saturday.
Pounders, who had been pitching at Triple-A Columbus, was immediately added to the major league roster. The Mets (33-36) also recalled right-hander Chris Flexen from Triple-A Syracuse and put him in the bullpen against St. Louis as well.
Right-hander Tim Peterson was optioned to Syracuse, and veteran lefty Hector Santiago was designated for assignment.
In other news, the Mets signed first-round draft pick Brett Baty, a 19-year-old third baseman out of Lake Travis High School in Texas. He received a $3.9 million bonus, below the slot value of $4,366,400 for being the 12th overall selection.
New York began the night 16 for 32 in save chances, the most blown saves in the majors. The bullpen’s 5.23 ERA ranked 25th out of 30 teams, and the struggling relief corps was 1-6 with a 9.28 ERA in 16 games since May 27.
Dating to May 21, the Mets had four saves and 12 blown saves.nike nfl jerseys cheap china
All that despite trading for All-Star closer Edwin Diaz last offseason, and signing free agent relievers Jeurys Familia, Justin Wilson and Luis Avilan.
Familia, inked to a $30 million, three-year contract to be Diaz’s primary setup man, was on the injured list from May 1-12 with a sore right shoulder and has an unsightly 6.91 ERA in 28 appearances.
“We have confidence that we can get him back to where he’s been,” first-year general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said.
Diaz is 1-4 with a 3.58 ERA and three blown saves over his last eight outings after a 12-for-12 start to the season.
Wilson ($10 million, two-year contract) and Avilan ($1.6 million for one year) are on the injured list.
“We’re not going to sit on our hands and hope things are going to change,” Van Wagenen said. “We’re going to keep working and try to be proactive.“cheap nike nfl jerseys wholesale
The 28-year-old Pounders was 3-2 with an 8.92 ERA in 38 big league games with the Royals, Angels and Rockies from 2016-18. He had 42 strikeouts and 10 walks in 38 1/3 innings.
The right-hander was pitching well at Triple-A this season, going 2-1 with a 2.31 ERA and one save in 24 appearances. He had 46 strikeouts and 11 walks in 35 innings.
“I’ve seen some video of this year. It looks like the slider has improved over what we’d seen in the past,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said. “And we told him today, ‘Hey, be ready for any situation.’ Obviously, our bullpen’s been struggling and we’re not going to hesitate to use him however we see fit.”
