DUNEDIN, Fla. — It’s going to be a rare year.
For just the third time since 2005, the Yankees and Mets have made a trade. The Yankees acquired right-hander Miguel Castro for lefty Joely Rodriguez.
“I mean, it’s not the first time I’ve gotten trade, so I feel normal,” Rodriguez said. “Same baseball and same ball. I mean, different thing, but same thing. And the same city.”
The 27-year-old Castro has “big stuff,” according to an American League scout. He went 3-4 with a 3.45 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 70.1 innings pitched. He made a career-high 69 appearances in 2021. He led all Mets relievers in appearances and innings pitched, and held batters to a .189 opponents’ batting average.
The Yankees are familiar with him from his four years with the Orioles and two with the Blue Jays.
Re-signing Rodriguez was the only major league deal the Yankees made before the lockout, which they did after releasing him. He went 2-3 with a 4.66 ERA last season between the Rangers and Yankees.
On April 10, 2018, the Yankees acquired utility minor leaguers L.J. Mazzilli from the Mets for Kendall Coleman. And on Dec. 19, 2014, the Yankees acquired right-handed pitcher Gonzalez Germen from the Mets for cash considerations.
With the Mets hiring Brian Cashman’s former protege Billy Eppler as their general manager, and with the Mets under new ownership, maybe this could be a sign of a new era between the crosstown rivals.
