We’ve acquired @theloney_s from San Diego for cash considerations. #Mets pic.twitter.com/Ge1bCuNYN4
— New York Mets (@Mets) May 28, 2016
With Lucas Duda out for possibly a month with a back injurty, the New York Mets have been busy shopping around for a first baseman.
The name James Loney has certainly been thrown around by New York Mets fans as a possible fill in for the injured Lucas Duda, and it looks like they maybe get their wish.
The Metropolitans acquired him in a trade with the San Diego Padres for cash considerations, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Rubin.
This was a quality low risk move for the Mets, as they will be responsible for only a pro-rated portion of the league minimum salary.
The Rays released Loney back on April 3 before the Padres scooped up the first baseman.
The Padres sent Loney to Triple-A El Paso, where he hit .342 with two homers and 28 RBIs. Loney was also with the Padres last season and hit .280 with four homers and 32 RBIs.
Loney may not be the player he used to be, but he still is a serviceable player.
Loney will clearly be an upgrade over Eric Campbell, who has been seeing the majority of playing time at first in Duda’s absence.
Campbell has only been hitting .182 this season and more adequately fills the roll of a bench player. He will also be moved back to a reserve role, which will suit him well.
With Wilmer Flores scheduled to come off the DL soon, he and Loney can platoon at first base with a righty-lefty combo. While neither will replace Duda’s power, both are proven hitters who can pick up the slack.
Flores has played a few games at first base this season and has done a fairly decent job given the circumstances.
With Duda possibly out for an extended period of time, the Mets had to acquire someone with Loney’s experience who will be able to fill Duda’s void at first base.
