The NEW York Yankees and New York Mets have made an unusual crosstown trade on Friday.
It’s been reported that the New York Mets acquired New York Yankees catcher Luis Torrens in exchange for cash considerations.
SNY’s Andy Martino first reported the trade that sent Torrens to the Mets.
In a corresponding move, the Mets designated catcher Omar Narvaez for assignment.
Torrens has been hitting .279 with five home runs and a .807 OPS for the Yankees’ Triple-A squad Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season.
He didn’t make an appearance on the big league club in 2024.
The 28-year-old Torrens has played in 269 career MLB games for the San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, and Chicago Cubs since making his major league debut in 2017.
The Mets sent $100,000 to the Yankees for him, Martino reported.
The Yankees had no room for Torrens on the MLB roster as the team employs a catching tandem of Jose Trevino and Austin Wells.
Torrens will replace Narvaez, who’s a nine-year veteran and was hitting just .154 in 28 games.
The 32-year-old Narvaez was making $7 million this season as a backup catcher and was being outplayed by Tomas Nido.
The Mets will also soon be getting back the injured starting catcher Francisco Alvarez.
It’s been revealed that the Yankees and Mets have made only 16 trades with each other since the latter became an MLB franchise in 1962.
Their last trade came in 2022 when the Yankees dealt Joely Rodriguez to the Mets for Miguel Castro.
The Mets also made additional moves on Friday as the team sent rookie starting pitcher Christian Scott and third baseman Brett Baty to the minors while also promoting infielder Jose Iglesias.
Fans were confused with Scott’s demotion as the 24-year-old posted a 3.90 ERA in five starts while striking out 25 in 27.2 innings.
But ESPN insider Jeff Passan explained that the Mets will call up Scott soon and made the demotion since the team has extra off days because of their games in London next month and wants to keep the rookie’s “season-long innings total in check.”
As for Baty, the 2019 first-round pick has hit just .128 since May 6.
The Mets are in the middle of a 5-15 slide which has dropped them to a 23-33 record.
They are fourth in the NL East and are just 3.5 games up on the measly 20-39 Miami Marlins.
New York will play the Arizona Diamondbacks at home on Friday night.