Just Mets

The Mets took the necessary step of shoring up the left side of their bullpen late Tuesday night, acquiring LHP Eric O’Flaherty and cash from the A’s in exchange for a player to be named later.

To make room for O’Flaherty on the roster, the Mets designated Alex Torres for assignment.

O’Flaherty, 30, was designated for assignment by the A’s on August 1. He was 1-2 with a 5.91 ERA in 25 games for Oakland this year.

He was on the Disabled List from May 2-June 2 with a left shoulder strain.

Over the last five years, he has recorded a 2.03 ERA, the fourth-lowest mark in the majors.

The lefthander posted a 1.99 ERA from 2009-2013 while pitching for Atlanta. He is 22-11 with a 2.99 ERA in 419 major league games with the Mariners, Braves and Athletics during his 10-year major league career.

O’Flaherty has held lefthanders to a .201 batting average during his career.

As for Torres, it can be argued he should’ve been designated for assignment when the Mets activated Jenrry Mejia from the restricted list on July 8.

Torres had a rough year with the Mets, walking 26 batters in 34 1/3 innings pitched in 39 appearances in 2015. He only recorded one outing in which he did not allow a base runner since May 2.

While he was anointed Terry Collins primary left-handed reliever after Jerry Blevins landed on the disabled list, left-handed hitters hit .268 with a .406 on-base percentage against him this season, with his command issues serving as his primary problem.

He was an effective weapon against right-handed hitters, but it was hard to see Torres’ wildness playing during critical, late-inning situations down the stretch of the season.

The Mets acquired Torres from the Padres for Cory Mazzoni at the end of spring training.