New York Mets get closer Tyler Clippard in trade with Oakland Athletics

In their second trade in four days, the Mets acquired closer Tyler Clippard from Oakland on Monday for minor league pitcher Casey Meisner in a swap of right-handers that increases New York’s payroll by a little more than $2 million.

The 30-year-old Clippard, who is eligible for free agency after this season, is 1-3 with a 2.79 earned-run average and 17 saves in 21 chances. The Athletics obtained him from Washington in January.

On Friday night, the Mets acquired infielder Juan Uribe and utilityman Kelly Johnson in a deal with Atlanta.

When Clippard reports Tuesday, there will be $3,129,508 remaining from his $8.3-million salary. Oakland will pay the Mets $1 million as part of the trade.

Meisner, 20, was a third-round draft pick in 2013. He is 10-4 with a 2.35 ERA in 18 starts for Class A Savannah and St. Lucie this season.

New York’s payroll has gone up by about $4.46 million with the two deals.

Uribe was owed $2,557,377 of his $6.5-million salary at the time of Friday night’s trade and Johnson was due $590,164 of his $1.5-million salary. Atlanta agreed to send the Mets $814,754 as part of that trade.

Cueto start is set

Johnny Cueto hasn’t officially joined the Royals yet, but the ace’s presence is already being felt. Cueto, acquired Sunday in a trade with Cincinnati, will make his debut for Kansas City on Friday in Toronto.

The Royals sent left-handers Brandon Finnegan, John Lamb and Cody Reed to the Reds for Cueto, who won 20 games last season and will instantly move to the top of Kansas City’s rotation.

“It gives you a little boost,” Manager Ned Yost said before the Royals opened a three-game series with the Indians in Cleveland. “It gives you a guy that you can anchor your rotation with, a proven No. 1 guy. Those kind of guys tend to make everyone in the rotation better.”

Although they have the American League’s best record, the Royals’ starting pitching has been suspect. Kansas City’s starters are last in the league in innings pitched, and the Royals believe Cueto can eat up some innings and ease the pressure on their excellent bullpen.

Etc.

The Houston Astros have shaken off Taylor Swift‘s original tour date at Minute Maid Park in case of a playoff run. The Astros announced Monday that they’d moved up the date of the Grammy Award-winning singer’s show in Houston from Oct. 13 to Sept. 9. Houston wasn’t expected to contend entering this season, but the Astros entered Monday’s games just one game back in AL West and in first place for a wild-card spot. ... The Arizona Diamondbacks have reinstated catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia from the 15-day disabled list and optioned right-hander Dominic Leone to double-A Mobile. The 30-year-old Saltalamacchia had been on the DL since before the All-Star break with a strained neck. He appeared in 20 games, hitting .213 with a homer and four RBIs after signing with Arizona as a free agent on May 7. ... The Chicago Cubs released right-hander Edwin Jackson one week after he was designated for assignment. Jackson, 31, was 2-1 with a 3.19 ERA in 23 relief appearances for the Cubs this season. Signed to a four-year deal worth $52 million before the 2013 season, Jackson struggled badly over his first two years with the Cubs and was moved to the bullpen near the end of last season. ... The Texas Rangers have recalled right-hander Phil Klein from triple-A Round Rock. In two previous stints with the Rangers, Klein had an 8.25 ERA in eight games. Right-hander Anthony Bass, whose 51 2/3 relief innings were third-most in the majors, was sent to Round Rock after back-to-back appearances Saturday and Sunday. Right-hander Ross Ohlendorf was designated for assignment after 10 relief appearances during an injury rehab assignment at Round Rock. He was 1-0 with a save and a 3.52 ERA in eight games for Texas before going on the disabled list June 7 with a right groin strain.