CINCINNATI (AP) -The New York Mets got Jeff Conine from the Cincinnati Reds for two minor leaguers on Monday, adding a 41-year-old player who has two World Series rings and knows how to contribute off the bench.
Conine can play first base or outfield and is adept at pinch-hitting – he led the Reds with nine hits in that role. Conine is batting .265 overall with six homers and 32 RBIs.
“We’ve had our eyes on him for a while,” Mets general manager Omar Minaya said.
The move came one day after the Mets put infielder Damion Easley on the 15-day disabled list with a severely sprained left ankle, the latest blow to the NL East leaders.
Easley is expected to miss at least a month, Minaya said. He added the Mets probably would not have made the trade if Easley had not been injured.
Conine won World Series titles with Florida in 1997 and 2003. He plans to retire after this season, and was delighted to spend the last months of his final season in contention.
“My initial thought is: First place,” Conine said, in the Reds clubhouse. “I get to go back to another pennant race.”
The Reds acquired shortstop Jose Castro and outfielder Sean Henry, who were playing in Class A.
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