Despite the New York Mets being shut out on Tuesday’s doubleheader, the team has an amazing collection of offensive players. Dominic Smith has emerged as a slugger with patience and an amazing ability to hit extrabases, Wilson Ramos could get going any moment (especially now that he will have more playing time following Tomas Nido’s placement on the IL) and so could Pete Alonso. Robinson Cano is having a great season, not to mention Michael Conforto and Brandon Nimmo. Jeff McNeil remains a well-rounded offensive weapon.
Yet, the woes on the starting pitching continue. Steven Matz was demoted to the bullpen last week but injuries and the tight calendar have forced Mets manager Luis Rojas to reconsider that plan. Robert Gsellman and Seth Lugo are now part of the rotation because Marcus Stroman opted out, David Peterson and Michael Wacha got injured and Noah Syndergaard isn’t an option to pitch anytime soon.
To capitalize on their wide-open contention window, the New York Mets need more stable starters alongside Jacob deGrom. Wacha and Peterson are nearing a return, but acquiring one prior to the trade deadline isn’t out of the question.
The Mets want to be cautious with their resources
Mets’ general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said the team would be careful before the deadline, but didn’t rule out being aggresive.
“I think the aggressive approach that we’ve taken in the past is not something that we will eliminate from a possibility. But we recognize we’ve got a 30-game season effectively, and less than that once the trade deadline comes and goes,” Van Wagenen explained a couple of days ago to the media. “And so we have to be responsible for the future of the organization while still being opportunistic for ways to improve the club.”
In a report on Tuesday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic cited one MLB executive who expects the Mets to be a “surprising player” at the deadline. Other officials anticipate Van Wagenen being “aggressive as he tries to save his job with the sale of the team nearing completion.”
Rosenthal’s piece says that the Mets have more financial flexibility now that Marcus Stroman and Yoenis Cespedes decided to opt out.
Could the Mets be players at the deadline? Will they address starting pitching? How about the bullpen? Only time will tell, but we will know soon.