MLBTR's team-by-team look at the upcoming deadline continues with the Mets. Things have cooled after a hot start, thanks to a mounting number of injuries. But the club is still in playoff position and should be adding this month.
Record: 53-41 (83.1% playoff probability, per FanGraphs)
Other series entries: Rockies, Giants, Phillies, Pirates, Astros, Marlins, Athletics, Orioles, White Sox, Nationals, Cubs, Rays, Dodgers, Braves, Yankees, Angels
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Potential needs: Starting pitching; bullpen help, particularly from the left side; center fielder; infielder; catcher
Life comes at you fast in the baseball world. That's especially true in this era, where pitchers are pushing the human body to its limits. On June 12th, the Mets had a record of 45-24 and a 5.5-game lead over the Phillies in the National League East. They had a healthy rotation and a couple of guys on rehab assignments, almost ready to come off the injured list. At that moment, it seems like Frankie Montas was going to get squeezed to the bullpen and Paul Blackburn to the trade block.
On that June 12th date, Joel Sherman of The New York Post reported that the Mets were getting trade interest on Blackburn due to their apparent rotation surplus. But moments after that report came out, Kodai Senga collapsed on the field with an apparent injury. He would be placed on the IL with a hamstring strain shortly thereafter. Not long after that, Tylor Megill also hit the IL, in his case due to an elbow sprain. A little over a week later, Griffin Canning ruptured his Achilles' tendon and Blackburn hit the IL with a shoulder impingement.
That barrage of injuries has quickly turned a surplus into a deficit and hampered the club's results. They have gone 8-17 over the past few weeks and are now a game and a half behind the Phils in the East. They are still firmly in contention, holding a Wild Card spot, but now seem likelier to add starting pitching.
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I’ll sum up what the Mets need as a true fan:
An ace level pitcher: Degrom, Gallen, or Beiber (if healthy)
A Centerfielder: Buxton or Durran
A setup man (lefty): Chapman
2 more relievers to solidify the pen: Mix of Bednar, Camilo Doval, Felix Bautista, Duran, Clase
If they made these moves, they would be the favorite to win it all. Its time for Stearns to stop prospect hugging
What does that even mean – a “true” fan?
I like your Chapman idea. How about Felix Bautista as well.
I don’t like our CF options. Buxton is made of glass. Durran is fine but I don’t know if he’s the answer. Neither might be available.
I’m more of the 3B camp for a bat. I like Suarez. Moves will need to be made and I’m not sure there’s much interest in our young guys at the MLB level. Vientos stock has to be rock bottom.
It means he’s an idiot who sounds like someone calling in to nyc sports radio shows.
@sfes Most of WFAN outside of Evan Roberts doesn’t know what they are talking about. I can’t listen to them
@Sayhay888 we don’t need a 3rd basemen, Baty and Mauricio are fine. I don’t think Suarez would be a huge upgrade for what we would have to give up
metzfan relax on the real fan thing we are all real fans we wouldn’t be on this page. most of the players you mentioned aren’t available as their teams are still in contention or believe they are. Cedric Mullins makes the most sense and center field. they’re not bringing deGrom back, he’s too much money he’s too brittle and he has a no trade clause and he left New York for a reason. nobody is hugging prospects but they certainly don’t have enough prospects at any level for the 25 people you want to bring on board
Are you talking to yourself? Lol
@metzfan Cedric Mullins isn’t an upgrade over Taylor, he has been lousey for 2 years already
metzfan relax on the real fan thing we are all real fans we wouldn’t be on this page. most of the players you mentioned aren’t available as their teams are still in contention or believe they are. Cedric Mullins makes the most sense and center field. they’re not bringing deGrom back, he’s too much money he’s too brittle and he has a no trade clause and he left New York for a reason.
nobody is hugging prospects but they certainly don’t have enough prospects at any level for the 25 people you want to bring on board
Not a Mets fan, but this is comedic. Your team doesn’t have the assets to complete 1/4 of these acquisitions. Maybe they should’ve spent $700 million on a better team and not just one player?
Give your GM a chance with realistic expectations. Like Keller, Bednar for Mauricio plus.
@Big Poison The Mets have a top 5 farm system in the game right now. We have plenty of assets. If Stearns gets guys like who we got in 2022 (Vogelbach, Ruf, Givens) then the team isn’t going anywhere
I’m not foolish enough to believe we can trade for another team’s ace, closer, star hitter and more. But I do believe that any team who lost most of their starting rotation, several late arms in the pen and important bench pieces would struggle too. Doesn’t help that Vientos has fallen off the face of the planet while Mauricio, Baty and Acuna aren’t putting up consistently good numbers.
I think getting affordable impact players has to be the name of the game. Bednar would be a good get. Keller is possible, but I’d also consider an established hitter to lengthen the lineup.
Senga is their ace type pitcher coming back tonight. Manea is another quality arm coming back on Sunday. Raley is the lefty arm coming back after the break. In house people coming back took care of 75% of that.
Two more impact relief arms wouldn’t hurt
@Mets Era Thumping Soto Senga is not an ace. An Ace goes 7 innings consistenly and can slam the door with heat when you need it. Senga throws too slow. Raley was awful on the Mets in his time here. He is coming back from TJ, he is probably even worse now
You have zero credibility saying Raley was awful with the Mets.
@Mets Era Thumping Soto Raley is bad in high leverage situations. He also has reverse splits, he can’t get lefties out
Stearns is a joke, does nothing but shop in the discount rack, can’t build a rotation or a bullpen. Soto was signed by Cohen. Stearns has never won anything. People need to stop acting like this guy has a clue.
That discount rack he shops at certainly produced a lot of first place finishes for a small market team.
@carlos15 you are 100% right. I’ve been saying this since last year
Suarez and Zac Gallen ( both free agents at seasons end) so it shouldn’t cost a lot., plus Jake Bird and Halvorsen from the Rockies
2 trades fixes 3 areas.
Go with a rotation of Gallen, Senga, Manaea, Holmes and Montas, put Peterson in the BP, that fixes the lefty needed in the pen plus with Raley coming back.
Not sure Peterson has a great track record coming out of the pen
He did last year in the playoffs
Those are fantasy baseball ideas.
Mets can’t pull all those in without paying double or more based on the tax. As for “prospect hunting” not sure what prospects you’re referring too. All Stearns has done is pick up waivers from the bottom of the barrel.
It’ll be interesting to see what potentially unfolds before this deadline, as always!
Brooks Raley is back after the break. That helps a lot with the bullpen. Manea and Senga are back this series. They really only need to add a couple of top relievers and they will be fine. I wouldn’t add pieces to the roster unless they are clearly better than what they got such as Duran. I wouldn’t be surprised if Benge is starting in Center by the end of the year.
@LFG I’ve been saying for the last several weeks the Mets need an ace. The time is now!!!
“Benge starting in CF by the end of the year…” Just about zero basis for that prediction, and next to zero chance of that happening.
Besides his performance? Do you pay attention to their minor leagues at all? I guess a college star drafted in the first round that excels in the minors never gets called up in his second season.
Just to be clear, Benge is a great prospect. But what you’re talking about is extremely rare and happens only with real superstar talents. You’re not just talking about him getting called up – you’re saying he starts in CF, and for a contender. You’re placing far too much relevance on single-A performance. As for his AA numbers, he’s been there for just 13 games and 50 PAs – not nearly long enough to characterize what he is doing there. You’ve heard of “small sample size”. Well, the statisticians term for it is “invalid” sample size. I follow all of the top 4 Mets minor league teams every single day, and have been for 12 years. I’ve seen plenty of star talents get off to a great start for 6 or 8 weeks after a promotion, only to go into an equally deep slump once that league figures him out.
Going from draft to the majors in his second year? Happens very rarely, and when it does, the player is not always successful. You’re also forgetting that players are now drafted in mid-July instead of early June. They get 6 weeks less playing time in their first season. Michael Conforto opened his second season in AA, and had 45 games there before being called up. He did well in that call-up but was used largely in a platoon role. The following season saw him get sent down again.
What you’re suggesting is, at best, unreasonably optimistic.
Go get Suarez, Keller and Bednar, Bader would be a nice cheap pickup. Love Buxtons talent but that injury prone guy would cost too much. If they can’t get Suarez, go for his teammate Naylor and his expiring contract. He can be the FT DH and can flip with Pete once and awhile.
Fire Jeremy Hefner to start with, no one on the team can throw a strike.
Be real. He’s one of the best pitching coaches in baseball.
Keller could be solid if the price is right. Would certainly add a solid piece to the rotation and supply depth.
Vientos would probably be part of the return.
Please send him in a trade tomorrow, I don’t want to see him play again lol
Not sure if he would or wouldn’t, but right now he’s tough to watch. And that’s on top of Acuna, Baty and Mauricio. Really need at least one of them to get going consistently to buy some wiggle room for the others. If any of them really click, my first bet would be Baty.
The Mets need to get rid of Mark Vientos, he sucks