WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 03: A view of a New York Mets logo on a bag before the game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on July 03, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
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The New York Mets acquired veteran starter Paul Blackburn at the 2024 trade deadline as they attempted to strengthen their pitching staff for a postseason push.
In exchange, the club parted with several prospects, including right-hander Kade Morris. And, of course, the Mets missed the playoffs last year.
Now, less than two years after that decision, Morris is set for his major-league debut with another contender.
New York Mets’ Former Touted Prospect Making Big-League Debut With Another Team
The Athletics are calling up Morris for his MLB debut, according to MLB.com’s Martin Gallegos, marking a significant milestone for the former Mets prospect. The move comes after a rapid ascent through the minor leagues following his departure from the Mets’ organization.
“Morris, 24 this month, was a third-round pick of the Mets in 2023,” Darragh McDonald wrote for MLB Trade Rumors. “He was flipped to the A’s at the 2024 trade deadline in the deal which sent Paul Blackburn to Queens. At the time of the deal, Morris was still at the High-A level but he has since bumped up to the upper tiers of the minor leagues.”
Morris has the opportunity to join the Athletic’s big-league club amid a decent 2026 campaign. He posted a 4.45 ERA in 11 starts in Triple-A this season after posting a 2.79 ERA across nine Double-A starts last year.
But the 24-year-old’s development has been particularly encouraging considering where he stood at the time of the Mets trade. Morris had yet to advance beyond High-A ball when the Mets included him in the deal, making his rapid climb through Double-A and Triple-A a significant achievement.
While the Mets received some win-now value in Blackburn — though he was a bit of a disappointment on the mound in Queens — the Athletics will get their first look at one of the key prospects they acquired in the deal.
New York Mets’ Former Draft Pick Joins Athletics For MLB Debut
For Morris, the call up marks the realization of a goal that began when New York selected him in the third round in 2023. The next challenge will be proving he can establish himself at the highest level of the sport.
The Athletics are just a handful of games behind the division-leading Seattle Mariners but have been wrestling with a slew of injuries to their pitching staff. As a result, it seems they could use reinforcement from an arm like Morris’ but it’s not immediately clear where he might slot in for his debut.
“Perhaps Morris is getting the call to take (Luis) Severino’s rotation spot, or maybe to serve as a long reliever,” McDonald added. “The A’s also have Mason Barnett, Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang, Luis Morales and Joey Estes on the 40-man roster, so they have some other options who could be mixed in while (Aaron) Civale and Severino are on the shelf. Since this is the first time Morris has been given a roster spot, he has a full slate of options and could be easily sent back to Vegas if he’s not sticking around for an extended audition.”