New York Mets president David Stearns recently came out and acknowledged the most pressing area that the franchise will look to address ahead of the July 30 MLB trade deadline.
Per Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Stearns declared that the Mets have eyes on improving their bullpen before it’s too late in 2024:
“Certainly, this is an area of the team we’re going to continue to monitor,” Stearns bluntly expressed.
The Mets’ bullpen is just recovering following Edwin Diaz’s slump & Jorge Lopez’s departure
The Mets’ relief unit has not been a pillar of strength for the team this season. Closer Edwin Diaz has had his share of struggles, including four blown saves in the month of May, which contributed to his inflated 4.70 ERA, though he’s bounced back with two saves and a win in his last four appearances.
Behind him, New York’s bullpen could use a boost, especially since Jorge Lopez left town following a spat with an umpire during their 10-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 29. The former 2022 All-Star was giving the Mets good production between the sixth and eighth innings before his controversial departure from New York.
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The Mets could use reinforcements behind Reed Garrett and Adam Ottavino
As for the remainder of their relief unit, the Mets have Reed Garrett, Jake Diekman, and Adam Ottavino holding down their leadup spots. Garrett owns an impressive 7-3 record with four saves of his own and a solid 3.20 ERA and 59 strikeouts on the campaign. He can be looked at as a reliable eighth-inning fixture and a continual replacement for Diaz should the Puerto Rican superstar continue to see struggles down the road.
Diekman is also playing well with a 2-2 record and three saves on the campaign. Nevertheless, the Mets could use more firepower next to Ottavino, who has played well himself with a 2.16 ERA in his last seven games, six of which the Mets have won.
Heyman listed a slew of relievers that may be made expendable this month as options for New York to call front offices about. They include Kyle Finnegan (Washington Nationals), Paul Sewald (Arizona Diamondbacks), Garrett Crochet (Chicago White Sox), and star closer Kenley Jansen (Boston Red Sox).
The next two to three weeks will largely determine if the aforementioned teams will be sellers at the deadline and if the Mets can offer packages for those talented bullpen arms. Diaz should still have the confidence of Mets manager Carlos Mendoza for now, but another star closer entering the mix could change things in New York down the back half of the season.