**Athletics Acquire Kade Morris from Mets in Trade Deadline Move**
In a significant trade just before the 2024 MLB trade deadline, the Oakland Athletics acquired pitcher Kade Morris from the New York Mets in exchange for Paul Blackburn. The deal was finalized around 1:15 p.m. PST on Tuesday, just hours before the deadline.
Morris, a 2020 graduate of Pitman High School, was drafted by the Mets in the third round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of the University of Nevada. This was his first full season with the Mets, and the trade came as a surprise to him. “I just wasn’t expecting to get traded,” Morris admitted. “It’s been a wild ride.”
The Mets are bolstering their starting rotation with Blackburn, an eight-year veteran and former All-Star. Blackburn, who has a 4-2 record and a 4.41 ERA this season, has been recovering from a stress reaction in his foot but is expected to strengthen the Mets’ pitching depth. Over his career, Blackburn has posted a 4.83 ERA and was an American League All-Star in 2022.
Morris, meanwhile, was ranked as the Mets’ No. 25 prospect but is now considered the Athletics’ No. 20 overall prospect and ninth-best pitching prospect after joining the team. At the time of the trade, he had a 3.43 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 57 2/3 innings with the Mets’ High-A team in Brooklyn. His standout performance included a near-perfect game in his last start.
Though the trade has been hectic for Morris, he remains focused on his goal. “The mission hasn’t changed,” he said. “I’m always trying to get 1% better every day. My goal is to make it to the big leagues and win a World Series.”
Morris also has a personal connection with Tyler Soderstrom, an A’s catcher and fellow Turlock native. Soderstrom, who was a first-round pick in 2020, reached out to Morris after the trade to welcome him to the organization.
The trade was part of the Athletics’ broader strategy to strengthen their minor league system. Earlier on the same day, they also traded reliever Lucas Erceg to the Kansas City Royals for outfielder Jared Dickey and pitchers Mason Barnett and Will Klein.
A’s general manager Dave Forst expressed optimism about the trades, despite the team’s current struggles. “I feel pretty good about the players we have coming back,” Forst said. The Athletics are looking to build for the future as they await the construction of their new stadium in Las Vegas.
Leave a Reply