Mets ‘Making Progress’ Toward Acquiring Tyler Clippard

The New York Mets have done what was necessary, improving an area of weakness without giving up their most prized prospects.

However, Rosenthal said “The Athletics… expect to receive better offers from other clubs for Zobrist and Clippard, most likely in separate trades”.

On Monday, the two teams continued those trends with each other.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported Sunday that the A’s could deal Clippard as early as Monday, and the Mets had already spent time talking to Oakland this season on a deal for Ben Zobrist, so the background may be in the works for a deal to be finished quickly.

Sandy Alderson started remaking the Mets roster on Friday, trading for Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson and calling up Michael Conforto.

If acquired, Clippard would be used as the bridge to closer Jeurys Familia, who has 27 saves and a 1.70 ERA this season.

Given the uncertainty around Bobby Parnell’s effectiveness since coming back from Tommy John surgery, and the post-season ban Jenrry Mejia obtained after testing positive for Stanozolol, Clippard provides the Mets with some added late-inning insurance. He has also recorded 17 saves on the year as well. A team in contention could certainly use Clippard in the late innings of close games.

Both the Mets and the Nationals have been vying to snag pitcher Tyler Clippard, with the Mets reportedly in the lead. Drafted by the Mets in the third round of the 2013 draft out of Cypress Woods High School in Texas, Meisner hasn’t yet graduated from A-ball. Home runs have not been an issue, as he’s allowed just 0.7 HR/9 this season, but perhaps a change of scenery will help the formerly known “Yankee Clippard”. He’s striking out 8.84 batters per nine innings, which falls below his career mark of 9.96.