The New York Yankees and Mets actually made a trade on Sunday night. Yes, this is not a belated April Fools joke; it is indeed true, the two New York City rivals exchanged relief pitchers, as the Mets sent Miguel Castro over to the Bronx in exchange for left-hander Joely Rodriguez.
Rare Mets-Yankees trade: Miguel Castro for Joely Rodriguez @Joelsherman1 on it
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) April 3, 2022
Rodriguez answers a need for the Mets, who were about to embark on starting the season without a left-hander coming out of the bullpen. Rodriguez was acquired last year by the Yankees in a deal with the Texas Rangers. In 21 games for the Bronx Bombers, Rodriguez was solid, posting a 1-0 record with a 2.84 ERA. He fits a need for a Mets team that is suddenly, after the injuries to Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer, scrambling for pitching.
The Yankees meanwhile get a known commodity in Castro. At 6-foot-7, Castro, 27, has really electric stuff when he is on his game. In 69 games last year with the Mets, Castro went 3-4 with 3.45 ERA. There was a thought he would still be a viable member of the Mets bullpen, but they desperately needed a lefty. The Yankees, likewise, desperately needed a reliever with good stuff, who has experience in the AL East. Castro pitched for both Toronto and Baltimore in his prior stops.
The deal between the two clubs is only 18th time the Yankees and Mets made a deal, and only the third time since 2005.