Rays Acquire A Lottery Ticket In Exchange For Wilmer Font

Image credit: Wilmer Font (Photo by Denis Peroy/Getty Images)

Seeking reinforcements for an ailing bullpen, the Mets acquired righthander Wilmer Font from the Rays on May 6.

Font, a 28-year-old journeyman who has now pitched for five big league clubs, pitched sparingly for the Rays and has made one appearance for New York since the deal. In return, the Rays received a lottery ticket-type of pitcher whom the Mets signed out of the Dominican Republic during the 2018 international signing period.

METS ACQUIRE:

Wilmer Font, RHP
Age: 28

Font has bounced around the big leagues since his debut with the Rangers in 2012 and pitched a total of 69 innings in the majors. At the very least, Font’s addition provides depth to a bullpen that has a 4.65 ERA this season. He fronts a four-pitch mix with a fastball that averages 94 mph and backs it up primarily with a curveball and slider.

RAYS ACQUIRE:

Neraldo Catalina, RHP
Age: 18

The Mets signed Catalina out of the Dominican Republic last July for $150,000. His calling cards were a massive frame (listed at 6-foot-6 and 202 pounds) and a fastball that already reached up to 95 mph. Evaluators who saw Catalina as an amateur noted that his fastball played up because of excellent extension in his delivery. He backs up the fastball with a power slider.

Ben Badler offered a brief look at Catalina in this year’s New York Mets international review.