New York Mets general manager Billy Eppler on cutting Darin Ruf: "It was a trade that didn’t work out. Plain and simple"
A brief and inglorious stint with the New York Mets has come to an end for Darin Ruf. The 36-year-old first baseman/designated hitter/left fielder was acquired by the Mets at last season's trade deadline to provide a right-handed balance to the team's designated hitter platoon with lefty Daniel Vogelbach.
Billy Eppler on Darin Ruf: “It was a trade that didn’t work out. Plain and simple.”
It didn't work out so well.
Ruf hit just .216 with the San Francisco Giants when the New York Mets sent four players, including corner infielder J.D. Davis, who was hitting .238 at the time, westward for his slugging services.
While Ruf was hitting 11 home runs to Davis' eight at the time, Ruf hit zero homers with a .152 batting average in 29 games after the trade and quickly became every Mets fan's least favorite player.
After Ruf was cut Monday, New York Mets general manager Billy Eppler had a simple explanation for the assembled throng of reporters asking about the move. He said:
"It was a trade that didn't work out. Plain and simple."
Ruf's woes continued into Spring Training, where he hit .167 with one RBI and nine strikeouts in 11 games. He has reportedly been hampered by a sore wrist.
Vogelbach remains as the New York Mets' left-hander DH, despite struggling to keep his batting average above .200 this spring. It appears that Ruf's spot as the right-handed DH will go to non-roster invitee Tim Locastro, who is hitting .289 with one homer and 8 RBI this spring. Outfielder Tommy Pham is also a right-handed hitter currently on the roster.
In his career, Darin Ruf has hit just .239 with 67 home runs and 202 RBI over eight MLB seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, Giants, and Mets.
Giants enjoying their trade return for Darin Ruf
On the flip side, San Francisco is very much enjoying their return for the under-hitting Darin Ruf. Left-handed pitcher Thomas Szapucki was moved to the bullpen by the Giants, where he logged a 1.98 ERA with 16 strikeouts over 13 2/3 innings over 10 games.
Davis punched up his batting average of 25 points with San Francisco, hitting .263 in 49 games. He also doubled his home run total after the swap, hitting eight homers after tallying four round-trippers in 66 games against New York.