The Mets acquired Darin Ruf from the Giants in exchange for J.D. Davis, LHP Thomas Szapucki, RHP Carson Seymour, and LHP Nick Zwack.
In 90 games with the Giants this season, Ruf has put up a .701 OPS with a 103 wRC+. This is another platoon bat move for the Mets, and Ruf should only be used versus left-handed pitching. He posted a .886 OPS and a 149 wRC+ against lefties with the Giants this season, versus his .570 OPS and 70 wRC+ against righties.
The Giants added J.D. Davis in this deal, Davis who is in the top of the league in terms of exit velocity has had a pretty average offensive season so far with the Mets. Davis had a 57.3% hard hit rate across 66 games with the Mets, even with the extremely high hard hit rate it only resulted in a .683 OPS and a 101 wRC+. Davis played both corner infield spots with the Mets this season, putting up -1 DRS at both positions.
The Giants also added 3 minor leaguers in the deal, the first of which being LHP Thomas Szapucki. Szapucki made his major league debut in the 2021 season, appearing in one game throwing 3.2 innings of relief. He has also appeared in one game this season, getting the start and going an inning and a third. In 18 games with the Mets Triple A squad this year, Szapucki has a 3.38 ERA and a 3.86 xFIP. He is a fastball/curveball prospect with a funky low-slot delivery, he sits 92-94 with the fastball and has the ability to throw his curveball against hitters from both sides of the plate.
The Giants also received RHP Carson Seymour. Seymour was picked in the 6th round of the 2021 draft out of Kansas State. He is a big righty who had some of the best pure arm strength in the 2021 draft. He throws a fastball that is approaching a plus-plus pitch, an above average slider, as well as a curveball that regressed once he added the slider. His changeup is still a work in progress, but the biggest question in Seymour’s game is his ability to throw strikes. His future as a possible starter is very much dependent on if he can fill up the zone enough to be effective. In 51.1 innings including 9 starts at the high A level with the Mets this season Seymour has posted a 2.93 xFIP and a 30.7 K%.
The last prospect that the Giants added in the deal is LHP Nick Zwack. Zwack was also picked in the 2021 draft, in the 17th round out of Xavier. His arsenal is highlighted by a plus slider, he is primarily a sinker/slider guy, but he has the ability to throw some well placed changeups. He has carved up the lower levels of the minors so far with the Mets, in 63.2 innings at the high A level this season he has a 1.84 ERA and a .193 BAA.
The Mets added a platoon bat to help hit against lefties, while the Giants flipped a 36 year old with 0.1 WAR for 3 prospects and a major leaguer. Why it took 4 players to acquire Darin Ruf, I do not know, this is an extreme overpay for a player that most likely will not start everyday.