After spending the past eight seasons as a member of the Oakland Athletics, Paul Blackburn is heading to the East Coast.
The New York Mets have acquired Blackburn from Oakland in exchange for minor-league pitcher Kade Morris, the teams announced Tuesday.
Blackburn, an All-Star in 2022, has a 4.41 ERA over 51 innings pitched and nine starts for Oakland this season. The 30-year-old has also struck out 38 hitters and issued 14 walks, posting a 4-2 record for the last-place Athletics.
Morris, 22, was picked in the third round of the 2023 draft by the Mets and has pitched at low- and high-A in 2024. Since earning his promotion, Morris has thrown 57.2 innings, striking out 57 batters to the tune of a 3.43 ERA.
With Kodai Senga going on the injured list after making just one start, New York needed some pitching depth down the stretch. It currently sits in third place in the NL East with a 56-50 record.
