The Mets were able to land a coveted bullpen arm just before the 6:00 p.m. deadline, acquiring veteran Mychal Givens from the Chicago Cubs.
In exchange for Givens, the Mets sent right-handed pitching prospect Saul Gonzalez to Chicago. Gonzalez had been pitching with Low-A St. Lucie.
A second-round pick by the Baltimore Orioles in 2009, the 32-year-old Givens has played with four major league teams (Orioles, Rockies, Reds, and Cubs). Over the course of his eight seasons, Givens has pitched to a 3.34 ERA, averaging 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings.
Givens in the middle of one of his best pro seasons, pitching to a 2.66 ERA with 51 strikeouts and 19 walks over his 40.2 innings with the Cubs.
Billy Eppler and the Mets were clearly in the market for a bullpen arm, as the team has dealt with injuries to relievers like Drew Smith and Trevor May. Givens, who features a mid to upper-90s fastball with a wipeout slider and filthy changeup, figures to fit somewhere in the back end of the bullpen.
Acquiring Givens was one of two moves made by the Mets on Tuesday, as the club also acquired a right-handed DH option in Darin Ruf, sending J.D. Davis and prospects to the San Francisco Giants.
