Mets Give Away Hard-Throwing 18-Year-Old Pitcher to Rays to Complete Wilmer Font Deal

The New York Mets and the Tampa Bay Rays have officially completed the Wilmer Font deal.

The Mets have sent hard-throwing prospect Neraldo Catalina to the Rays as the deal's player to be named later.

#Mets trade a hard-throwing RHP prospect to #Rays as PTBNL in Wilmer Font deal:https://t.co/WDwgXefmGS pic.twitter.com/FbxLUt3nPE
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) May 13, 2019

The 18-year-old right-hander is an imposing presence on the mound, standing at 6-foot-6, and he has the speed to match. Catalina can reach 95 mph on his fastball and boasts a power slider as well. He has yet to make an appearance in the minors.

The Rays have a notoriously good pitcher development system, so Catalina's name should be one to keep an eye on as he rises through the ranks.

Font, the centerpiece of the deal, has made just one appearance since the Mets acquired him. He went four innings in a spot start, allowing two runs on three hits. He's managed a 5.50 ERA in 18 innings of work in 2019.

Well, we were warned it would be an interesting low-level guy, and Catalina fits the bill. He’s 18 and hasn’t pitched in a pro game yet, but earned a six-figure bonus, routinely hits mid-90s, and was going to skip the DSL and start his career stateside.
— Jacob Resnick (@Jacob_Resnick) May 13, 2019

It definitely feels like the Mets gave up more than was necessary for such a mediocre reliever.

If Font doesn't get the chance to establish himself soon, the Mets may have wasted an intriguing prospect for a single spot start in an already shaky season.