SAN DIEGO _ The Mets have traded first baseman Lucas Duda to the Rays, a source confirmed to The Record. The Mets are receiving right-handed pitching prospect Drew Smith.
Duda is the first Mets player to be traded ahead of the non-waiver trading deadline, and the team could still deal other veterans. Addison Reed, Jay Bruce, Curtis Granderson and Asdrubal Cabrera are also available.
Jay Bruce is starting at first base Thursday against the Padres.
Smith, a reliever, has a 5-4 record, 1.80 ERA, 13 saves in 79 career minor-league games. Smith, 23, was a third-round pick by the Tigers in the 2015 draft out of Dallas Baptist University. The Rays acquired him in April to complete an earlier trade.
Duda, a Mets draft pick in 2007, has spent his entire career with the organization. In 760 major league games, Duda has 125 home runs _ seventh-most in team history. He has the most home runs of any player at Citi Field with 71 blasts.
