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NEW YORK — Seeking help for a struggling and depleted bullpen, the New York Mets have acquired reliever Phil Maton from the Tampa Bay Rays for a player to be named or cash. Maton was 1-2 with a 4.58 ERA and two saves in 40 appearances for the Rays this season. The 31-year-old right-hander has spent eight seasons in the majors, compiling a 4.28 ERA in 384 games for San Diego, Cleveland, Houston and Tampa Bay. He gives the Mets an experienced arm to replenish a taxed and tattered bullpen that has lost veteran left-hander Brooks Raley and right-hander Drew Smith to season-ending elbow injuries. New York has blown 16 of 37 save opportunities this season, and the relief group has an 8.16 ERA over the past 14 games.
