After swinging and missing earlier this week in a deal to acquire Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Carlos Gomez, the Mets finally connected on Friday, acquiring outfielder Yoenis Cespedes from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for two minor league pitchers.
So in the final hours before baseball’s nonwaiver trade deadline, they were the New York team that made headlines. The Yankees, who have a comfortable lead in the American League East, chose to stand pat, even though their starting pitching remains inconsistent.
Back to the Mets. Cespedes, a 29-year-old who will be a free agent at the conclusion of the 2015 season, will give them an often-dynamic player who hits with power from the right side and has a strong throwing arm in left field, where he has played for much of his major league career.