In something of a surprise, the Mets traded minor league pitcher Gabriel Ynoa to the Orioles this week for cash considerations. With the relief pitchers the Mets signed lately (Salas and Blevins), they needed to free up a spot on the 40 man roster. Apparently Ynoa was the one that had to go.

Which kind of surprises me. I never thought Ynoa was going to be a stud starting pitcher along the lines of what the Mets have now, and that might be why they're trading him...but I think there were other pitchers to could have left the organization before him. Rafael Montero jumps to mind right away.

But there's a lot to be said about pitchers having value as starters and relievers. The Mets braintrust may have decided that Montero will bring more value to the team as a reliever than Ynoa would, since the Mets rotation looks like it could be set for the next half decade.

I think Gabriel has a good chance to be a starting picher anywhere from the 4-5 spot in a rotation, and I wish him the best in the future.

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