Mets Acquire Phil Maton from Rays to Bolster Bullpen

In a move aimed at addressing their bullpen struggles, the New York Mets have acquired reliever Phil Maton from the Tampa Bay Rays. The trade, which took place on Tuesday, saw the Mets give up either a player to be named later or cash considerations in exchange for Maton.

Maton, 31, has had a mixed season so far, posting a 4.58 ERA over 40 appearances with the Rays. However, he has shown improvement in recent outings, with an impressive 0.75 ERA in his last 11 games. The Mets are optimistic that Maton's arrival will help shore up their bullpen, which has been hit hard by injuries, losing Brooks Raley and Drew Smith for the rest of the season.

The Mets currently rank 16th in the Major Leagues with a bullpen ERA of 4.13 as of Tuesday's play. However, their performance has significantly declined since the beginning of July, with a league-worst ERA of 9.41 during that period. The addition of Maton is seen as a crucial step in turning around their bullpen woes.

It is expected that Maton will join the Mets' bullpen either on Wednesday or Thursday, providing much-needed relief for a team that is eager to stay competitive in the playoff race. With the Trade Deadline approaching, this acquisition is likely to be followed by further moves as the Mets aim to strengthen their roster for the remainder of the season.