The New York Mets have acquired 1B/OF Darin Ruf from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for three prospects and INF/OF J.D. Davis.
The New York Mets are continuing to add to their big league roster, albeit in small ways. The club has been tied to nearly every significant player in the rumor-mill so far, but have come away with just Daniel Vogelbach, Tyler Naquin and now Darin Ruf.
J.D. Davis will be heading back to the San Francisco Giants in this deal, and has long been a name floated around in trade rumors for the Mets, but acquiring Ruf in the deal is a head-scratcher, as the two veterans are very similar players.
LHP Thomas Szapucki, LHP Nick Zwack and RHP Carson Seymour are also going to be heading to the Giants along with Davis.
Mets: Darin Ruf acquired from Giants, adding more right-handed pop to lineup
In Ruf, the Mets are bringing aboard a highly-proficient right-handed bat that excels against left-handed pitching. Ruf has frequently been on the right side of platoons throughout his eight-year career at both first base and in the outfield corners, where he'll spend time with the Mets.
The Mets' addition of Vogelbach and Naquin, both left-handed bats, will pair nicely with a player of Ruf's stature, as he mashes lefties and the former two mash against righties.
On the season, Ruf has 90 games under his belt with the Giants, hitting 11 home runs and driving in 38 runs, posting an OPS+ of 98 and spending time at DH, first base, left field and right field for the Giants.
Davis, 29, is the most prominent name going from New York to San Fran in the deal. Davis is a similar player to Ruf in that he is a right-handed batter who plays corner infield and some corner outfield as well. He comes with more team control than Ruf does, as his contract does not expire until the 2025 season where Ruf becomes a free agent at the conclusion of the 2023 campaign (although his contract has a team option for the 2024 season).
For the season, Davis has 66 games under his belt with four home runs, 21 RBI and a 96 OPS+ while seeing time at both third base and first base for the Mets.
Szapucki, 26, is a left-handed starting pitcher who has made two starts for the Mets in as many seasons, to some not-so-great results. In five big league innings, he has surrendered six home runs and a whopping 15 earned runs total, good for a 27.00 ERA.
Seymour, 23, is a swingman type of pitcher who has been gathering both starts and relief appearances in A-ball for the Mets over the past few seasons. This year, he has split his time between A-ball and High-A, making 18 appearances (13 starts) and going 5-5 with a 2.76 ERA, striking out 92 in 81+ innings.
Zwack, 24, is a very similar pitcher to Seymour although he is a southpaw whereas Seymour is a right-handed pitcher. Zwack has 18 appearances (15 starts) this year between both A-ball and High-A and is 6-2 with a 2.36 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 76+ innings.