Trade Central: Mets Bring Back Niese

THE DEAL

Jon Niese spent less than a season in Pittsburgh. Acquired Dec. 9 for second baseman Neil Walker, Niese headed back to the Mets on Monday for lefthanded reliever Antonio Bastardo, who last year pitched for the Pirates but like Niese struggled with his new team this season.

METS ACQUIRE
Jon Niese, lhp
Age: 29

Niese, the Mets’ opening day starter as recently as 2013, seemed to fit with the Pirates’ gameplan as a ground ball pitcher. And while his ground ball rate has remained largely static at 54.7 percent, his home run rate spiked with the move away from spacious Citi Field to PNC Park. He’s allowed 21 long balls already this season, just one short of a career worst. But he can serve as rotation insurance for Logan Verrett until Zack Wheeler returns from Tommy John surgery, and Terry Collins told reporters that Niese can be a factor out of the bullpen, as he was during last season’s run to the World Series.

Club (League)	Class	W	L	ERA	G	GS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO
Pittsburgh (NL)	MAJ	8	6	4.91	23	18	110	132	63	60	21	38	76

PIRATES ACQUIRE
Antonio Bastardo, lhp
Age: 30

Like Niese, Bastardo pitched much better last season for the team he returns to this season. He was 4-1, 2.98 in 2015 in Pittsburgh and averaged 10 strikeouts per nine innings. He’s signed through 2017 for $6.5 million.