The Mets secured a victory against the Brewers on Tuesday, bringing them within one win of advancing to the National League Division Series. However, they will be without right-hander Paul Blackburn for the remainder of the season. Manager Carlos Mendoza announced Blackburn’s status to reporters, including Tim Healey of Newsday, confirming that he is officially done for the year.
Blackburn was acquired from the Athletics prior to the trade deadline, as the Mets needed depth in their rotation due to injuries to pitchers Christian Scott and Kodai Senga. The Mets traded prospect Kade Morris to bring Blackburn into the fold.
Unfortunately, the trade has not yielded positive results so far. Blackburn made five starts for the Mets, posting a 5.18 ERA before landing on the 15-day injured list due to a right-hand bruise sustained from a comebacker. While on the injured list, reports emerged indicating that he was also dealing with a spinal fluid leak in his back, raising concerns about his recovery.
Wednesday’s announcement confirmed that Blackburn would not return this season. Although this is not a critical loss for the Mets given the playoff schedule and smaller starting rotations, it does impact their options. Currently, the top three starters include Sean Manaea, Jose Quintana, and Luis Severino, with David Peterson and Tylor Megill as possible alternatives.
Senga may also be considered later, but his recovery from a shoulder capsule strain has limited his ability to contribute significantly this season. He recently completed a 25-pitch bullpen session, and while he might rejoin the team later in the month, his outings would likely be restricted.
Despite Blackburn’s absence, the Mets may still find value in the trade. He is eligible for arbitration for one more year, with MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projecting a salary of $4.4 million for 2025. Since the start of 2022, Blackburn has thrown 290.1 innings, maintaining a 4.43 ERA and showing potential for future contributions.
With several key pitchers potentially heading to free agency, Blackburn’s retention could be advantageous for the Mets as they plan for the 2025 rotation. Even if the team explores higher-profile acquisitions, Blackburn could still hold trade value moving forward.
For more detailed information, you can visit [MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com).