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The New York Mets sit in first place in the National League East, three games up on the Atlanta Braves as the organization looks to make the postseason for the first time since the 2016 season.
On Thursday, the Mets went out and found some help as the MLB regular season heads into August.
The Cincinnati Reds’ Tyler Naquin (12) hits a solo home run during the sixth inning of a game against the Miami Marlins Thursday, July 28, 2022, in Cincinnati.
(AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
New York acquired outfielder Tyler Naquin from the Cincinnati Reds, a move that came as a surprise to the left-handed hitter.
“It was definitely out of the blue,” Naquin said Friday, according to the New York Post. “I heard some things about other teams, but every year you kind of hear something around the trade deadline. I am sure it’s going to start heating up here in the next couple of days for everybody.”
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Naquin adds another bat to the Mets lineup and a player who can man all three outfield positions for manager Buck Showalter.
Tyler Naquin of the Cincinnati Reds celebrates after Matt Wisler of the Tampa Bay Rays balked to end a game 2-1 in the 10th inning at Great American Ball Park July 8, 2022, in Cincinnati.
(Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
“He’s a guy that can play all three outfield positions, left-handed bat, good defender and thrower and run the bases,” Showalter said. “He can bring some things that all clubs need. Just another piece that we can maneuver and present a tough lineup.”
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Naquin hit .246 with 33 RBIs and seven home runs in 56 games with the Reds and is due to become a free agent after the season.
The New York Mets’ Tyler Naquin looks out from the dugout during the fifth inning of a game against the Miami Marlins Friday, July 29, 2022, in Miami. New York acquired the left-handed-hitting outfielder and lefty reliever Phillip Diehl Thursday night in a deal for two teenage minor leaguers, outfielder Hector Rodríguez and right-hander Jose Acuña.
(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Naquin, who did not play in New York’s 6-4 win over the Miami Marlins Friday night, now gets a chance to play for a team with postseason aspirations.
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“It’s fun, man,” said Naquin, according to MLB.com. “It’s exciting news. It’s been a whirlwind the past couple hours. … It should be a fun ride.”
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The Mets and Marlins are scheduled to play the second game of their three-game series Saturday night at 6:10 p.m. ET.