SAN DIEGO — It’s powerful to search out many deficiencies in a staff that’s received their final seven video games, however with the commerce deadline coming this week, the Mets must be vital of what they’ve to find out whether or not or not they’ve sufficient firepower to get by means of October.
The Mets swept the San Francisco Giants on the street over the weekend, and the Yankees did their crosstown rivals a stable by beating the Philadelphia Phillies. Consequently, the Mets now lead the NL East by 1.5 video games over Philadelphia. The Giants dropped to three.0 video games behind the San Diego Padres for the third NL Wild Card spot, and the Mets open a three-game collection in opposition to San Diego this week.
Thursday’s 6 p.m., ET deadline looming massive. With that stated, right here’s what the Mets may very well be taking a look at this week.
WHAT THEY NEED: STRIKE-THROWING RELIEVER
If there may be any lesson to be taken from the 2024 postseason, it’s that should you run out of dependable relievers, you could possibly begin to run out of gasoline. The circle of belief appeared to develop smaller and smaller with every spherical final fall, and by the point the Mets confronted the Los Angeles Dodgers, it was too small to maintain up. A potent Dodgers offense compelled the Mets to make use of relievers outdoors of the high-leverage group they usually had been unable to maintain the deficit low.
Gregory Soto was introduced on this week to present the group one other high-leverage lefty, and whereas there’s little doubt that he’s a weapon, he’s one other reliever who typically struggles to throw strikes. Strike-throwers are essential through the postseason when practically each pitch counts.
Cleveland’s Emmanuel Clase would have match that invoice earlier than the league put him on depart by means of Aug. 31 in reference to a sports activities betting investigation. Nonetheless, Clase was a premier nearer who would have little doubt come at a excessive value — in all probability greater than the Mets would have preferred to pay, so Pittsburgh’s David Bednar may very well be the winner.
A right-hander with a 2.4 walks-per-nine innings fee and a 2.19 ERA this season, there are questions on Bednar given his early-season struggles and his 2024 season. He recorded an NL-best 39 saves in 2023, however final yr he posted a 5.77 ERA with solely 23, and he was demoted to Triple-A in April.
Since returning, he’s returned to outdated kind. Bednar seems to be a middle-of-the-road reduction candidate, who received’t value as a lot as somebody like Minnesota nearer Jhoan Duran, however now that Clase is off the market, it might drive up the value for Bednar.
Proper-hander Paul Blackburn (shoulder impingement) will return to the Mets within the coming days and certain be used out of the bullpen whereas staying stretched out as a starter. Whereas he isn’t a high-leverage reliever, he gives insulation for the 4 beginning pitchers on restrictive counts. With a low profession stroll fee, the Mets could resolve Soto was sufficient of a bullpen addition and look so as to add elsewhere as a substitute.
WHAT THEY COULD USE: CENTER FIELD HELP
It’s unclear in the event that they plan to search for a middle fielder or not. President of baseball operations David Stearns stated he doesn’t assume the lineup essentially wants one other bat, and he’s proud of how supervisor Carlos Mendoza has dealt with the taking part in time cut up between the light-hitting Tyrone Taylor and tremendous utility man Jeff McNeil.
“I think it’s two skill sets that complement each other, so I’m comfortable with that,” Stearns stated over the weekend in San Francisco. “Like with the rest of the team, certainly we’re going to explore areas of upgrades and that’s one of them.”
Taylor gives elite protection, whereas McNeil, the 2022 NL batting champ, gives energy on the plate. McNeil enjoys being moved across the diamond, however realistically, he’s in all probability one of the best on a regular basis second baseman on the roster. Luisangel Acuña has not proven a capability to hit persistently, and Brett Baty, whereas actually proficient on the place, just isn’t a not a pure center infielder. Utilizing McNeil as the first middle fielder would imply the Mets must proceed rotating their younger infielders at second, third and DH, Acuña, Baty, Mark Vientos and Ronny Mauricio.
This doesn’t appear to be an issue for the Mets.
“It’ll play itself out,” stated supervisor Carlos Mendoza. “We continue to take it one day at a time. We continue to help these guys with their development. We’ll find playing time for them. We’re not worried about what’s going to happen two or three weeks down the road. I think it’s just more like, what do we need to do to put those guys in a position to help us win a baseball game today?”
The membership has been related to middle fielders Luis Robert Jr. and Harrison Bader, although it’s not recognized if there may be any reliable curiosity in both. Bader didn’t produce the best way the Mets had hoped final season, however he’s an elite defender and a right-handed bat with comparatively even splits in opposition to right- and left-handed pitchers. Robert, nonetheless, has a .966 OPS in opposition to left-handed pitching.
WHO IS SAFE
Middle fielder Jose Siri (fractured tibia) just isn’t near a return, and neither is outfielder/DH Jesse Winker (decrease again irritation). They’re having a pool get together of kinds in the intervening time, doing water exercises as a part of their rehab applications.
Up to now, the Mets had been reluctant to maneuver prospects ranked inside their top-20. Nonetheless, final yr, Stearns made it clear that nobody is off the desk if there’s a commerce he believes will give the staff a greater probability within the playoffs. Nonetheless, it’s honest to count on them to guard a few of their high expertise in Triple-A, particularly since beginning pitchers are lastly beginning to stream by means of the pipeline.
This contains right-handers Brandon Sproat, Blade Tidwell, Jonah Tong and Nolan McLean. On the place participant aspect, Jett Williams, Ryan Clifford, Drew Gilbert and Double-A outfielder Carson Benge might all be secure.
WHO COULD GO
Whereas it wouldn’t be shocking if just a few members of the large league roster departed, the Mets appear to largely be focusing on gamers they may get for some A-ball pitchers, and possibly a Double-A man or two. It’s powerful to know if the Mets could be open to dealing Acuña, Baty, Vientos or Mauricio, although just a few of them have been inquired about by different groups. The Mets’ determination to have Baty study second base may need by chance elevated his commerce worth, although he nonetheless has but to supply offense on the big-league stage persistently.
Vientos has regressed defensively at third base, and he hasn’t been capable of comply with up on his 27-homer season this yr, however the Mets see indicators of a turnaround, and he’s carrying a six-game hitting streak into San Diego. He’s both taking part in his approach again right into a job, or he’s peaking on the proper time to get traded.
Mauricio appears untouchable proper now, particularly after a four-hit sport Sunday in San Francisco. Acuña has use together with his pace.
The wild card is likely to be outfielder/DH Starling Marte. He missed time when a knee damage from final season flared up earlier than the All-Star break, however even after he returned he nonetheless stored hitting. Over his final six video games, he’s gone 13-for-22 (.591) with 4 doubles, an RBI, a stolen base, two walks and a 1.398 OPS. He’s had no less than two hits in every of these six video games.
A veteran right-handed hitter, he want to be an on a regular basis outfielder once more, however can be offering the Mets with an offensive spark at DH.
“He’s been in this league for a long time and had success, so he knows that there are going to be stretches where it’s like, ‘Man, I’m feeling it, but I’ve got to keep going,’” Mendoza stated of Marte. “You hate to put guys on the IL, especially, guys that have that type of impact. So I’m just glad he’s back healthy and performing.”
Initially Printed: July 28, 2025 at 6:17 PM EDT
