When the injury-plagued Mets acquired James Loney for cash on May 28, the thinking was he would be part of a platoon at first base with Wilmer Flores, supplying the left-handed at-bats.
It would be a temporary matter, with Lucas Duda expected back later this season after being sidelined with a stress fracture in his back. There was no way of telling what the future would hold for Loney upon Duda’s return.