The New York Mets have acquired shortstop Sammy Stafura, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ No. 9 prospect, in a trade for reliever Luke Weaver. The deal was announced hours before the league's trade deadline on Monday.
Stafura, a New York native, is considered the highest-rated player the Mets have received at this deadline. He is expected to slot in as the Mets' No. 10 overall prospect and their third-ranked shortstop, ahead of Nick Morabito. Stafura grew up in Cortlandt Manor, New York, approximately an hour's drive from Citi Field.
"I’m ready to get after it. I am one of the biggest Mets fans ever and will give the Mets everything I have," Stafura told MLB.com following the trade. He has publicly expressed his strong Mets fandom, even naming former Met Brandon Nimmo as his favorite player due to his positive outlook.
At the time of the trade, Stafura was playing for the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers, where he had a .276 batting average with a .960 OPS, 54 RBIs, and 20 home runs in 221 at-bats this season. He has also demonstrated elite speed, with at least 30 stolen bases in each of his last two full seasons. Defensively, the 21-year-old has impressed with his range, instincts, and actions at shortstop, posting a .983 fielding percentage with 75 assists and 44 putouts for the Grasshoppers.
Stafura was initially drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the second round of the 2023 MLB Draft after committing to play for Clemson. He signed an over-slot bonus of $2.5 million before being assigned to the Arizona Complex League. Stafura was later traded to the Pirates as part of the Ke’Bryan Hayes deal during the 2025 trade deadline, progressing from Single-A Bradenton to the Grasshoppers.
Stafura has cited former Mets David Wright and Jose Reyes as players he modeled his game after as a child. He is expected to bring both talent and a local connection to the Mets organization.