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New York Mets: Trading Jose Bautista was the right move

By Alex Jordan

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 25: Jose Bautista #11 of the New York Mets follows through on his sixth inning two run home run against the San Diego Padres at Citi Field on July 25, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 25: Jose Bautista #11 of the New York Mets follows through on his sixth inning two run home run against the San Diego Padres at Citi Field on July 25, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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The New York Mets traded outfielder Jose  Bautista to the Philadelphia Phillies. Now Baustista has a great shot at winning a title.

The New York Mets traded outfielder Jose Bautista to the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday. In return the Mets will get a player to be named later and cash considerations. The Phillies have designated right-handed pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. for assignment to make room on the roster.

Bautista signed with the Mets in May after being released by the Atlanta Braves. He is the third player to play for three teams in the same division in the same year, joining Bob Reynolds and Kelly Johnson, according to ESPN. With the Mets Bautista hit .204 with nine home runs and 37 RBIs.

Bautista overall is hitting .196 with 11 home runs and 42RBIs this season.

Trading Bautista is a good move for the Mets. With Bautista gone Brandon Nimmo, who is returning from the disabled list, Michael Conforto and Dominic Smith should get playing time. Jay Bruce is also back so it doesn’t make sense for the Mets to keep Bautista.

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With Bruce being back Bautista would probably just be on the bench if the Mets had kept him. Smith has been struggling, so Jose might have gotten some playing time, but not a lot.

The Mets traded Bautista because they wanted “to do right by Jose,” and give him a shot at winning a title, according to assistant general manager John Ricco. Ricco told Anthony DiComo of MLB.com:

"“A big part of the deal was freeing up that space.He came to us at a time when we had some injuries and needed some stability. He not only provided that, but did a lot more.Being able to move him to a contender … it allows Jose a chance to participate in a pennant race and ultimately chase a World Series ring.”"

Bautista wouldn’t have a chance to win a title with the Mets, who are having a dismal season and are 15.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East. While the Mets are working to trying to contend next year, I have seen anything yet that tells me that they will contend. I think that if Bautista had stayed with the Mets then he might not ever have a chance at winning a title.

The Phillies, on the hand, will give Bautista a chance to win a title. Entering Tuesday the Phillies are 70-61 and in second place, 3.5 games behind the Braves. The Phillies are currently 2.5 games out of a wild card spot. Bautista has a way better shot at winning a title with the Phillies than he would with the Mets.

Next. Three Mets who must show something for 2019. dark

Trading Bautista was the right move for the Mets because they couldn’t give him a shot at winning a title and he wouldn’t get much playing time if he had stayed with the Mets. The Mets wanted Bautista to have a shot at winning a title and they gave him that shot by trading him to the Phillies.

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