The Mets have traded for Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jay Bruce and reacquired starting pitcher Jonathon Niese from the Pittsburgh Pirates, the team announced Monday.
The Mets traded second base prospect Dilson Herrera and minor-league pitcher Max Wotell in exchange for Bruce. reliever Antonio Bastardo went to the Pirates for Niese.
Bruce, a three-time All-Star, brings a big bat to a Mets club that has struggled mightily at the plate. The 29-year-old Bruce is hitting .265 with a .316 on-base percentage, 25 home runs and league-leading 80 RBIs in 97 games. Bruce is batting .360 this season with runners in scoring position.
The Mets rank last in baseball in batting average (.237) and third-to-last in runs scored (381) and RBIs (371).
Niese was a Met until this past winter, when he was traded to Pittsburgh for Neil Walker. He is 8-6 with a 4.91 ERA in 23 games (18 starts) with the Pirates. He was 61-61 with a 3.91 ERA in 182 games with the Mets from 2008-2015.
..... - Newsday