Mets send Luke Weaver to Pirates as MLB trade deadline sell-off continues
Mets send Luke Weaver to Pirates as MLB trade deadline sell-off continues
Erich Richter Tue, August 4, 2026 at 1:48 AM UTC
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New York Mets pitcher Luke Weaver walks off the field after the top of the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field in New York City on Sunday, August 2, 2026. (This asset –including all text, audio and imagery –is provided by Imagn Images. Reuters Connect ha)
The Mets continued their sell-off, and the Pirates finally got their closer.
Luke Weaver was traded to the Pirates ahead of Monday’s MLB trade deadline in a major move for the National League wild-card contenders.
The expectation for Weaver — under team control through the 2027 season — is to move into the closer role in Pittsburgh.
New York Mets pitcher Luke Weaver walks off the field after the top of the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field in New York City on Sunday, August 2, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
In return, the Mets will get back infielder Sammy Stafura from the Pirates, their No. 9 prospect, per The Post’s Joel Sherman.
Stafura grades out as a 60/60 for speed and 40/55 for fielding, according to FanGraphs, as the Mets hope to develop him into a legitimate prospect in their farm system.
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The Mets’ top setup man has a 1.84 ERA this season with a 2-1 record in 44 innings pitched as one of the lone bright spots for the struggling team in Queens.
The Pirates’ bullpen ranks No. 22 overall in all of baseball with a 4.36 ERA.
Pittsburgh has 20 blown saves this season, the fifth-most in all of MLB.
Gregory Soto currently leads the team in saves with 14, while the rest of the bullpen has been mostly a revolving door in the backend of the bullpen.
Stafura, 21, has been excellent this season in the minor leagues, hitting for power as a shortstop with 20 home runs in High-A to go along with 20 stolen bases.
The trade marks the latest deadline deal for the Mets, who have traded away starter Freddy Peralta, relievers Huascar Brazoban, Brooks Raley and A.J. Minter during their sell-off.
Source: “AOL Sports”
