With the MLB Draft and All-Star break over, the hot stove action should be pretty wild with the trade deadline not far away on Aug. 2. And the New York Mets (58-35) and Pittsburgh Pirates (39-54) got that trade action started on Friday night.
The Mets have acquired first baseman/designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach in exchange for relief pitcher Colin Holderman. The move was officially announced by each organization:
Mets general manager Billy Eppler had interesting comments on the trade:
Vogelbach, 29, is a fan favorite largely due to his very unique physique, listed at 6’0″, 270 pounds. But he’s a solid hitter that gets on base (.338 on-base percentage in 2022, .336 for his career) and slugs (.430 slugging percentage in 2022, .408 for his career) well above league-average clips (the MLB average OBP this season is .312, and the average SLG is .395). He has career-best wOBA (.337) and wRC+ (118) marks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8JvHrY_A0E
The left-handed slugger has particularly been good against right-handed pitching, rocking a .260/.365/.532 slash line and 149 wRC+ vs that arm side this season in 203 plate appearances. This is an area where he should really help the Mets’ offense.
Interestingly, the Mets gave up a rookie big-leaguer who’s done very well this season (usually in these types of trades, the buyer is looking to maintain any quality possible big-league help, but then again the Mets are pretty loaded on the pitching side of things and can always make more trades).
Holderman, 26, has a 2.04 ERA and 2.26 FIP this season in 17 2/3 innings pitched. The 6’7″ right-hander has averaged 96 mph on his fastball this season. He ranked 10th on the Mets’ top prospects list from FanGraphs (Eric Longenhagen) earlier this month.
So, on the surface, it’s a pretty sensible deal for both the buyer and seller.
Here’s a look at how baseball fans are reacting to the trade:
It's gone mostly under radar, but Daniel Vogelbach's Slug, ISO this year resemble figures from 2019, when he hit 30 HRs w/ Mariners.
Working w/ Pirates hitting coach Andy Haines, he's made some pre-swing changes to get to damage better. Paying off.
His 118 wRC+ is his best.
— Will Sammon (@WillSammon) July 22, 2022
Of the 275 hitters with at least 130 PA against righties, Vogelbach ranks 17th in wRC+, with 149. That's a point better than Pete Alonso! Could do worse than a Vogelbach/Davis platoon at DH https://t.co/CQkvhZVzgh
— Jon Becker (@jonbecker_) July 22, 2022
https://twitter.com/AnswerDave/status/1550612102922096642
Colin Holderman has a good slider, and a decent cutter, but the sinker rates as below-average, even in a short outings, despite the decent velo. Maybe the Pirates think they can do something to the shape of the sinker to get him back to starting.
— Eno Sarris (@enosarris) July 22, 2022