The Mets traded Niese to the Pirates in the offseason for second baseman Neil Walker.
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In a move that is, apparently, not some typo or discarded Kafka plot, the Pirates have traded Jon Niese back to the Mets for Antonio Bastardo. Niese, who pitched out of the bullpen throughout the Mets’ playoff run last season, will likely be used in relief but will be available for starts as needed. He walked a pretty thin line a year ago en route to a 2.98 ERA with the Pirates, and now they’ll gamble that he can do it again. He sports a 4.74 ERA in 41 appearances despite a solid start in the first month and a half of the season.
Jon Niese didn’t leave NY on the best terms this offseason.
He signed a two-year, $12 million deal in the offseason with the Mets. He is owed $6.5 million in 2017. The Pirates demoted Niese from the rotation shortly after the All Star Break and their General Manager, Neal Huntington, admitted he made a mistake trading for Niese last winter.
Niese is 8-6 with a 4.91 ERA this season.
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These deals come on the heels of the Mark Melancon trade to the Washington Nationals.
