Rockies send Young to Mets for right-hander McHugh

TORONTO -- The Rockies sent outfielder Eric Young Jr., who was designated for assignment last week, to the Mets on Tuesday night for right-handed pitcher Collin McHugh, then optioned McHugh to Double-A Tulsa.

McHugh, 26, has brief big league experience over the last two seasons (0-5, 8.26 ERA in 11 games, five starts). This year he was 0-1 with a 10.29 ERA in three games, including one start (eight earned runs, 12 hits in seven innings).

McHugh's high point with the Mets came in his debut -- a Citi Field game against the Rockies last Aug. 23, when he pitched seven scoreless innings, struck out nine and gave up two hits. He didn't figure in the decision -- a 1-0 Rockies victory.

This season, McHugh has thrived at the Triple-A level at Las Vegas, a hitters' park, to the tune of a 3-2 record with a 2.87 ERA in nine starts.

The trade is an opportunity for Young, 27, to try to settle the Mets' leadoff situation. They have used nine players in the No. 1 spot this season, and have an unsettled outfield situation.

The switch-hitting Young batted .242 with one home run and six RBIs, and was successful on 8-of-12 stolen-base attempts. Last year, Young appeared in 98 games and hit a career-best .316 with four homers, 15 RBIs and 14 steals, and was playing regularly before suffering a season-ending oblique injury in August.