ATLANTA -- New York Mets general manager Jim Duquette made a bold statement Friday by acquiring right-handed pitchers Kris Benson and Victor Zambrano in separate trades.
The Mets sent top pitching prospect Scott Kazmir -- their first pick in the 2002 draft -- and Double-A right-hander Jose Diaz to Tampa Bay in exchange for Zambrano and minor league pitcher Bartolome Fortunato.
Landing Benson was a bit more complicated. New York sent top catching prospect Justin Huber to Kansas City in exchange for infielder Jose Bautista. Duquette then shipped infielder Ty Wigginton, top-tier pitching prospect Matt Peterson and Bautista to Pittsburgh for Benson and infielder Jeff Keppinger.
The Mets are flying Benson (8-8, 4.22 ERA) to Atlanta on a private jet and he will join the club in time to start on Saturday night. He had made his last two starts for Pittsburgh against the Braves, winning in Atlanta on July 21 and losing at home to the Braves on Monday. He is 3-2 with a 2.37 ERA in five career starts against Atlanta.
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