Mets general manager Sandy Alderson did exactly what he needed to do minutes before the trade deadline when he sent minor league pitchers Luis Cessa and Michael Fulmer to the Detroit Tigers for Yoenis Cespedes. Cespedes helped the Mets to a World Series run while Fulmer was named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Year.
Fulmer finished his breakout season going 10-3 with a 2.24 ERA and 1.075 WHIP in 22 starts combined between the AA Binghamton Mets and Erie SeaWolves. He was recently added to the Tigers 40-man roster after manager Brad Ausmus talked about him as a possible September call-up last season.
The other part of that trade was Cessa who has also been added to the Tigers 40-man this offseason. Cessa was very good in 2015 with Binghamton (7-4, 2.91 ERA, 1.216 WHIP) before struggling in AAA for both Las Vegas (8.51 ERA, 1.808 WHIP) and Toledo (5.97 ERA, 1.619 WHIP). The 23-year old right-hander pitched a career high 139.1 innings in 25 starts.
Right-hander John Gant was added to the Braves 40-man roster after dominating in seven starts at AA Mississippi going 4-0 with a 1.99 ERA and 1.033 WHIP. He came to Atlanta from the Mets in the four player deal that also sent Robert Whalen to the Braves for Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson.
The fourth former Mets minor league pitcher that was traded this season to be added to a teams 40-man roster was right-handed pitcher Matt Koch. He was traded along with Miller Diaz to the Arizona Diamondbacks for reliever Addison Reed. Koch was much better in 2015 when he was a reliever (2.54 ERA, 4.43 SO/W) than as starter (3.81 ERA, 2.50 SO/W). The 25-year old former second round pick spent the entire season in AA.
Wow. This is an underreported but eye-opening story. The level of depth and talent of these young prospects. Congrats to them and the Mets for their development.
Really am surprised that no one else has reported this at all. Shows you that the Mets really did trade some good pitching talent.
Yeah, seriously.
I was very sad to see Fulmer go but it was a necessary trade at the time. Mets aren’t in the World Series without Cespedes. Just wish he was a better fit for the Mets and they had money to give him.
I agree. The Fulmer one stings (but was very necessary for 2015 MLB team), but it actually put onus on team to keep the line going. I think 2015 was the year the hitters started to emerge on the farm. I have the same hope for our pitchers in 2016.
Sheds some new light onto the trades due to the Mets being in a 40 man crunch without them. Fulmer would have obviously been added but the other 3 wouldn’t. Cessa would have most likely been picked in the rule 5, the other 2, doubtful. I can stand losing Fulmer because of what Ces gave the Mets, but the one that stings is Meisner. Clippard was below average and I think Meisner finds himself into the top 100 by this time next year.
This is why Sandy was named Exec of the Year. The Pennant was the tip of the iceberg. SA has created a solid system with excellent, ongoing development. Top talents had to claw their way up in Omar’s system, and some were rushed. Almost all of them were unprepared for extensive MLB careers & most failed. Sandy’s created a solid path for these guys to succeed. Good for him…