The Cincinnati Reds have acquired right-handed starting pitcher Matt Harvey from the New York Mets in exchange for catcher Devin Mesoraco and cash considerations, the Reds announced Tuesday.
While the cash considerations aren't publicly known, the Reds will pay the balance of Mesoraco's $13-million salary this season while the Mets will be on the hook for the remainder of Harvey's $5.6-million salary, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Both players are eligible for free agency following the 2018 campaign.
The deal comes after the Mets had designated the 29-year-old Harvey for assignment on Friday and remained confident they would be able to trade the former All-Star without releasing him.
The Mets had recently demoted Harvey to bullpen duties, but the Reds consider the 29-year-old a starting pitcher, general manager Dick Williams told Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.
The 30-year-old Mesoraco agreed to a four-year extension with Cincinnati worth $28 million prior to the 2015 season, but subsequently lost his starting role to Tucker Barnhart and has played sparingly in the years since. Through 18 games this season, Mesoraco has slashed .220/.289/.341 across 45 plate appearances with one home run.
The Mets had reportedly been looking to acquire a catcher after both Kevin Plawecki and Travis d'Arnaud were injured in early April. Plawecki suffered a hairline fracture in his catching hand, while d'Arnaud is dealing with a partial tear of his ulnar collateral ligament.
