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The Cincinnati Reds traded veteran outfielder Jay Bruce to the New York Mets for second baseman Dilson Herrera and left-hander Max Wotell. Here's a quick summary.
Dilson Herrera, 2B: Herrera was originally signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates out of Colombia in 2009; he was traded to the Mets in late August, 2013. He first reached the majors with the Mets in 2014 and split 2015 between Triple-A and the majors but wasn't able to force himself into a full-time role. He's spent 2016 with Triple-A Las Vegas, hitting .276/.327/.462. He's played 49 games in the majors, hitting .215/.308/.383 in 149 at-bats, moving just past official rookie limits.
Herrera is a right-handed hitter listed at 5-10, 205, born March 3, 1994. He has enough sock in his bat to hit 10-15 homers annually when he reaches his peak, and he has a multi-year track record of minor league success with a career .299/.362/.469 slash line. With more experience he can plausibly hit .260-.270 in the majors with enough OBP and SLG to be productive. The main question for Herrera is defense. He doesn't make a large number of errors, but his range and arm strength limit him to second base. He has little left to learn in the minors and at this point he needs at-bats in the majors more than anything else. He was blocked with the Mets.
Max Wotell, LHP: Wotell was drafted by the Mets in 2015 in the third round from high school in Waxhaw, North Carolina. He opened 2016 in extended spring training but was assigned to Kingsport in the short-season Appalachian League in early June. He's made six starts there, posting a 3.94 ERA in 29.2 innings with a 31/12 K/BB and 24 hits allowed.
Wotell is a 6-3, 195 pound lefty born September 13, 1996. His best pitch is a plus slider; he also features a fastball between 89 and 93 MPH and a workable change-up. His command is erratic due to a wandering release point but he's improved since being drafted and is still very young at age 19. He projects as a mid-rotation starter if all goes well.
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