The Oakland Athletics and the New York Mets struck a deal on Saturday involving Mets closer Jeurys Familia. The Mets will receive Minor Leaguers right-handed pitcher Bobby Wahl and third baseman William Toffey in the deal, as well as $1 million in international slot money in return for Jeurys Familia in the 2-for-1 deal.

After 3-years of not making the playoffs, and giving up fan favorites such as Josh Donaldson, Yoenis Cespedes, and Sonny Grey for the sake of rebuilding, the Oakland A’s are starting to turn things around and the ballclub is actually in the hunt for the 2nd Wild Card Spot.

“You always want to be in this position where you’re potentially adding,” Oakland A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “We’ve had three years where it’s been just the opposite. Three weeks ago, maybe this isn’t a conversation. But the way the team’s played in the last month put us in a position to be able to do something like this.”

Jeurys Familia has been solid for the Mets with a 4-4 win-loss record with a 2.88 ERA and 17 saves in 21 chances this season. The former All-Star has struck out 43 and walked 14 in 40 appearances over the course of 40⅔ innings. The Oakland Athletics are expected to pay the remaining $3 Million left on Familia’s contract for this year before he becomes a free agent this offseason.

“We thought he was the best guy out there,” Oakland A’s General Manager David Forst said. “Adding a reliever right now was the best option, and we thought Jeurys was the best guy. We’ve been talking to the Mets for a while, and we’re happy that it came together.”

“For already having a good bullpen, to be able to bring in an arm like this, man, it’s pretty significant,” Bob Melvin said. “I’ll certainly talk to him before I say how this is going to be deployed as far as what innings for who. But this is a real significant pickup for us. You can’t ask for much more.”

Bobby Wahl has just 7 2/3 innings of major league experience thus far and gave up four runs, four walks, and eight strikeouts during his first seven games with the A’s in 2017. Despite this setback, Wahl has been much more productive in Triple-A Nashville this year, garnering 11 saves in 27 chances and pairing that with a phenomenal 2.27 ERA, 3.9 walks per nine innings, and 14.7 strikeouts per nine innings through 39 2/3 innings.

William Toffey has spent 2018 in High-A Stockton, where he is currently batting .244/.357/.384 with five home runs and a .741 OPS in 197 PA. Toffey was ranked No. 17 in the Oakland A’s Minor League system and appears to have a bright future ahead of him.

The Oakland Athletics now have their guy at the closer position and the New York Mets are getting prospects to build of the future. Overall, this was a solid deal on both ends, but the Mets could have gotten a little more from the A’s in my opinion. Despite this, this deal puts both teams in better situations given their respective circumstances.