CINCINNATI -- More like Mets-oraco.
Moments after the Reds traded him Tuesday, catcher Devin Mesoraco was on the Mets bench for the first pitch by Luis Castillo. He was still wearing his Reds socks when he walked to the New York clubhouse, where attendants were sewing his name on the back of a Mets uniform.
"Just kind of surreal," Mesoraco said. "A whirlwind. A lot happened in 15 minutes."
He pinch hit in the ninth and took a called third strike as New York lost for the seventh time in eight games.
The Reds get former Mets ace Matt Harvey, who will join the team in Los Angeles later this week. Harvey is in Los Angeles working out.
The Mets created a spot for Mesoraco on the roster when they put third baseman Todd Frazier on the 10-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring.
The Mets lost starting catcher Travis d'Arnaud to season-ending Tommy John surgery last month, so Mesoraco gives them another option.
In leaving the Queen City for Queens, Mesoraco will be reunited with two former Reds teammates, Frazier and right fielder Jay Bruce.
"We feel fortunate that we were able to add a veteran guy who's good in the clubhouse who can play a couple of days a week," said J.P. Ricciardi, a Mets special assistant. "We talked to Jay and Todd about him."
Mesoraco, 29, lost his starting job two years ago to Tucker Barnhart two years and has significantly declined because of injuries since his All-Star season in 2014, when he led all major catchers with 25 homers and 80 RBIs. Hip, shoulder and foot injuries limited him to 95 games over the next three seasons, when he hit only six homers and drove in 17 runs.
"I have the opportunity to show I'm still capable of playing," Mesoraco said.
The Reds have selected the contract of C Tony Cruz from the Triple-A Louisville Bats.
