Mets' Eppler admits Ruf trade 'didn't work out' after DFA'ing him
New York Mets general manager Billy Eppler is well aware his acquisition of Darin Ruf last season didn't go how he hoped.
"It was a trade that didn't work out. Plain and simple," Eppler said Monday, according to Newsday's Tim Healey.
The Mets designated Ruf for assignment Monday after the 36-year-old struggled to the tune of a .498 OPS with one RBI over 30 at-bats this spring.
New York acquired Ruf from the San Francisco Giants at last year's trade deadline for J.D. Davis, Carson Seymour, Nick Zwack, and Thomas Szapucki.
Ruf couldn't find his game at the plate after the trade, registering a paltry .152/.216/.197 slash line across 28 games for the Mets.
Meanwhile, Davis and Szapucki had positive moments for the Giants in 2022. Davis hit eight home runs with an .857 OPS over 49 games, while Szapucki posted a sparkling 1.98 ERA with 16 strikeouts against just four walks over 13 2/3 innings.
New York chose the speedy Tim Locastro over Ruf for the Opening Day roster. Eppler said the decision came down to who made the Mets a better team.
"Just like last year on some things, we're going to make the best baseball decision we have to make," Eppler said, according to Healey. "When I talked to (Steve) Cohen about it, he said, just make the baseball decision."