An off-day trade, and a team that could solve the Mets' bullpen woes in one fell swoop
The Mets begin an important six game road trip, make a trade to improve their depth, and why they should be calling the Detroit Tigers constantly
What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾
Tonight the Mets will begin a six game road trip against the two worst teams in the National League East, Miami and Washington. Chris Bassitt gets the ball to begin the trip
The Mets need for bullpen help was exacerbated when they announced Drew Smith was going on the IL with a lat injury (story)
New York continues to be heavily linked to the Cubs’ David Robertson and Willson Contreras, though the conversations are still considered to be preliminary (Martino)
The Mets acquired outfielder Tyler Naquin and 28-year-old minor league lefty Phillip Diehl from Cincinnati in exchange for RHP Jose Acuna and infielder Hector Rodriguez
On Friday August 5th, the Mets will give all fans black Max Scherzer T-shirt to help black out the stadium in their contest with Atlanta (tickets)
Injury Updates 🏥
Jacob deGrom (stress reaction in scapula) is tentatively scheduled to make his season debut on Tuesday against the Nationals in Washington
Trevor May (stress reaction in humerus) likely will also rejoin the Mets during that same series with the Nationals
James McCann (oblique) began a rehab assignment with Double-A Binghamton on Thursday and went 1-for-3 with a run and two strikeouts
Drew Smith (strained lat) was placed on the IL on Thursday night. The Mets will announce a corresponding move later today
Roster Moves 📰
Acquired OF Tyler Naquin from the Reds
Acquired LHP Phillip Diehl from the Reds
Designated RJ Álvarez for assignment
Placed RHP Drew Smith on the 15-day injured list (lat strain)
Playoff Odds Tracker 🎲
The Mets lead the Braves by 3 games in the National League East with 64 games to go. They are on-pace for 100 wins which would be their highest mark since 1988 (100)
Playoff odds (FanGraphs):
Make the playoffs: 99.9 percent ⬆️
Win the National League East: 71.2 percent ⬆️
Clinch first round bye: 69 percent ⬆️
Win the World Series: 15.6 percent ⬆️
Trade Rumors 🕵️♀️
New York continues to be heavily linked to the Cubs’ David Robertson and Willson Contreras, though the conversations are still considered to be preliminary (Martino)
Today’s Game 🗓
Match-up: Mets (61-37) @ Marlins (47-52)
Where: LoanDepot Park — Miami, Florida
Starters: RHP Chris Bassitt (7-7, 3.72 ERA) vs RHP Sandy Alcantra (9-4, 1.81 ERA)
When: 6:40 PM EDT
Where to Watch: SNY
Mets acquire Tyler Naquin, Phillip Diehl for minor leaguers 📝
The Mets made a late evening trade on Thursday for some major league depth, announcing the acquisitions of OF Tyler Naquin and LHP Phillip Diehl from the Reds in exchange for minor league OF Hector Rodríguez and minor league RHP José Acuña. The Mets designated RHP RJ Álvarez for assignment.
It remains to be seen how Naquin, 31, ultimately fits on the Mets roster, although he represents an upgrade at least offensively to Travis Jankowski from the left side of the plate. Naquin - who can be a free agent at the end of the year - is hitting .246/.305/.444 with 12 doubles, seven home runs and 33 RBI in 204 plate appearances with the Reds so far in 2022 with five of those seven home runs coming against right-handed pitching. He has posted an .806 OPS against the right side this season and should serve as a quality backup capable of playing all three outfield positions.
Naquin has struggled against left-handed pitching, however, although he is far more competent against southpaws than newly acquired Daniel Vogelbach. He has posted a .553 OPS against the left side with two home runs, so he figures to see very little action against left-handed pitching down the stretch for the Mets. He is a step back defensively from Jankowski and while he does have some speed, its not that elite speed Jankowski possesses.
Diehl, 28, has limited major league experience and comes with several years of control (he cannot become a free agent until 2028), appearing in just 21 games between 2019-2022. He has allowed seven earned runs in 5.2 IP over seven big league appearances in 2022 and a 4.24 ERA with four home runs allowed in only 23.1 IP at Triple-A Louisville.
This transaction represents the third trade in a week the Mets have made ahead of the August 2 trade deadline. They acquired Vogelbach and C Michael Pérez in two separate trades from the Pirates last weekend, and now they’ve acquired back-of-the-roster players in Naquin and Diehl, although Diehl - like Pérez - would be optioned to Triple-A in all probability.
The Mets appear to be in a skills-accumulation/strength in numbers phase of their trade deadline strategy, attempting to solve their power problems against right-handed pitching for the time being. Vogelbach and Naquin help check those boxes to an extent although both come with vulnerabilities both against left-handed pitching and defensively. They still must address their vulnerability against left-handed pitching, and procure 1-2 pitchers for the bullpen, one of which has experiencing neutralizing left-handed threats specifically. Trevor May should be back with the Mets in the next week or so which will help strengthen their late inning relief corps, but they’ll still need at least one swing-and-miss arm to support a bullpen which currently possesses just two reliable relief pitchers (Adam Ottavino and Edwin Díaz).
-Michael Baron
One Stop Bullpen Shop for the Mets 📝
The Mets need to improve their bullpen is far from a secret, and it’s may have suddenly become priority number one between now and Tuesday’s trade deadline for GM Billy Eppler.
As the season has gone on, New York’s relief corps has become concerningly top heavy. It’s anchored by the best closer in the game in Edwin Díaz, and Adam Ottavino has been very good in a set-up role. Seth Lugo has been hit or miss—though never better than he was Wednesday night against the Yankees, and after a lights out start to the season Drew Smith had been wildly inconsistent for a month before landing on the IL on Thursday. Trevor May—though nearing a return—has been hurt most of the season, and from the left side both Joely Rodriguez and the exiled Chasen Shreve failed to emerge as a legitimate force from the left side of the bullpen.
To put it lightly, the Mets need legitimate bullpen arms to make sure postseason games don’t go awry between the starters and Diaz. After all, games in the playoffs are won or lost by the bullpen as the reliance on relievers has only increased over the years during the month of October.
And while New York has been linked to pretty much every big name relief pitcher available, there’s one team that could literally solve the Mets entire relief issue.
Hello, Detroit Tigers.
Detroit is currently 20 games under .500 and have suffered through a disappointing year entering the season hopeful they were on the way up. But their bullpen has been a resounding bright spot for them, and will be the biggest reason contenders get Tigers GM Al Avila on the phone over the next few days.
Right handed pitcher Michael Fulmer—yes the same Michael Fulmer the Mets traded to Detroit for Yoenis Céspedes SEVEN years ago has emerged as one of the premier right handed relievers in the game. The 29-year-old was the AL Rookie of the Year in 2016 and an all-star the following season before injuries threatened to derail his career and he was forced to reinvent himself as a relief pitcher.
In 39 games in 2022, Fulmer has pitched to a 2.84 ERA with a .185 batting average against, while registering 17 holds and striking out just a tick under a batter/inning. He’ll be a free-agent at years’ end and the Tigers are almost certain to ship him out before Tuesday.
A return to New York after being shipped out in one of the most storied trades in franchise history would be a great story as well.
Another (likely) free-agent to be, lefty Andrew Chafin (He has a player option for 2023 that he’s expected to decline) is exactly what the Mets have lacked all year long. The veteran is a dependable, consistent, established left handed set-up man who is hell on left handed hitters.
So far this year, Chafin owns a 2.53 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP in 32 innings, while allowing the opposition to hit just .207 against him.
And while Fulmer and Chafin are difference makers in their own right, if they really wanted to make a splash, let’s talk about Detroit’s flame-throwing left handed closer Gregory Soto.
The cost for Soto would be significantly higher due to the fact that he’s under team control for three more years, but the Tigers have indicated they’ll at least listen.
In 35 outings in 2022, Soto has posted a 2.43 ERA and surrendered just a .202 batting average against. He’s converted 18 of his 20 save chances, has surrendered just one home run all season, and struck out 9.72 hitters per nine innings.
Edwin Díaz he is not, but Soto could be that swing-and-miss arm the Mets badly need for the eighth inning and he could serve as medium-term insurance in the even Díaz leaves as a free agent.
The Mets quest for bullpen upgrades has been most linked to Chicago’s David Robertson thus far, but pulling off a trade for any two of the three Tigers I just mentioned would immediately transform New York’s relief corps into a major force of strength.
And dealing with just one team to address their biggest flaw in one fell swoop sounds extremely convenient.
- Justin Mears
Down on the Farm 🌾
Francisco Alvarez (C, No. 1 Prospect, Triple-A): 1-for-3, walk-off two run homer
Brett Baty (3B, No. 2 Prospect, Double-A): 2-for-5, HR, 4 RBI
Ronny Mauricio (SS, No. 3 Prospect, Double-A): 2-for-4, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R
Alex Ramirez (OF, No. 4 Prospect, Single-A): 2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI
Box Scores: Triple-A | Double-A | Single-A | Low-A
Around the League 🚩
In what could be his final home game in Baltimore, Trey Mancini hit a bizarre inside the park home run
There was a scary moment in Cincinnati when Marlins starter Daniel Castano was struck in the head by a line drive from Donovan Solano. He left on his own power and was later diagnosed with a concussion
Xander Bogaerts homered and stole two bases to help lead the Red Sox to a 4-2 win over Cleveland
Aaron Judge hit a walk-off homer against the Royals to help the Yankees recover from a rough couple of days in Queens
The Red Sox have told SS Xander Bogaerts he will not be traded ahead of the trade deadline (Boston Herald)
The Angels are insisting they have zero interest in trading Shohei Ohtani, but they’re still listening to pitches from other teams (New York Post)
The Astros are getting calls on OF José Siri as the club seeks more proven talent in the outfield (Athletic)