Mets’ Marcus Stroman trade: Scouting Kay, Woods Richardson

The last time the Mets traded two of their top prospects, it didn’t end so well.

Here goes Round 2.

On Sunday night, the Mets sent pitching prospects Anthony Kay and Simeon Woods Richardson to the Blue Jays for righty hurler Marcus Stroman, the teams announced.

The deal came as somewhat of a surprise given the Mets’ scant playoff hopes, and many signs had pointed to the pitching-hungry Yankees making a move for the Long Island native. The Mets’ similarly pulled a fast one when they traded top prospects Jarred Kelenic and Justin Dunn as part of a package for Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz last winter.

The 24-year-old Kay, who joined Kelenic and Dunn at the MLB Futures Game this month, is the Mets’ No. 4 prospect in a middle-of-the-pack farm system. The 2016 first-round pick appeared to be on the fast track to join the majors this season before tailing off at Triple-A Syracuse, where he has a 1-3 record and 6.61 ERA in seven appearances. Kay went 7-3 with a 1.49 ERA in Double-A Binghamton.

“The hitters are a little bit better. They’re a little more disciplined. They’re going to not swing at as much junk,” the lefty said the Futures Game when asked about his Triple-A struggles.

Kay’s rise has been slow, having missed all of 2017 while recovering from Tommy John surgery on his left elbow the previous season. He struggled in Single-A last season before taking off this summer, and is described as having mid-rotation potential with a solid curve ball and fastball.

While Kay is nearing the big leagues, Woods Richardson, at just 18 years old, is not yet close. The righty was taken by the Mets in the second round by the Mets, and is 3-8 with a 4.25 ERA in 20 starts with Single-A Columbia. Woods Richardson was ranked the Mets No. 6 prospect by MLB Pipeline.

“He came into spring training and really impressed us with how advanced he was, and we thought it was appropriate to challenge him in that league,” Mets executive director of player development Jared Banner told The Post earlier this month. “I think the most impressive thing with Simeon this year is his strikeout-to-walk rate.”

Woods Richardson features a four-seam and two-seam fastball, a slider and breaking ball, though he has been described by scouts as losing power deep into starts.

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