Fireworks in Arizona incoming, and what it means that the Mets got Gott
The Mets get ready to kick-off their series vs the Dbacks on the 4th of July. Plus, what does it mean that the Mets just traded for a relief pitcher?
Happy 4th of July from your friends at Just Mets!
What’s Up with the Mets? 🎆
The Mets enjoyed an off-day on Monday as they prepare to kick-off their series in Arizona later this afternoon
The club announced they officially acquired RHPs Trevor Gott and Chris Flexen in exchange for LHP Zach Muckenhirn and cash in a trade with the Mariners (story)
Who’s Hot 🔥
Over his last 31 games, Tommy Pham is hitting .378/.431/.694 with six home runs, 11 doubles, a triple, 24 RBI, 19 runs scored and a 1.125 OPS
Roster Moves 🗞️
Acquired RHP Trevor Gott and RHP Chris Flexen from Mariners
Traded LHP Zach Muckenhirn to Mariners
Designated RHP Chris Flexen for assignment
RHP Edwin Uceta transferred to 60-day injured list (left ankle sprain)
Today’s Game 🗓
Match-up: Mets (38-46) vs. Dbacks (50-35)
Where: Chase Field – Phoenix, AZ
Starters: RHP Kodai Senga (6-5, 3.53 ERA) vs. RHP Zach Davies (1-4, 6.54 ERA)
When: 4:10 PM EDT
Where to Watch: SNY
The Trevor Gott trade shouldn’t change the Mets deadline plans ✍️
As is normally the case, MetsTwitter was a flurry with knee-jerk reactions, quick assumptions and jokes at the ready when it was reported that the club had acquired right-handed pitcher Trevor Gott (and Chris Flexen, though he was instantly designated for assignment) on Monday afternoon.
Ultimately, though, this trade isn’t much to write home about. The Mets acquired a struggling reliever with good peripherals and a DFA’d pitcher that they themselves DFA’d in exchange for Zach Muckenhirn, who had also been DFA’d. This is the move where the Mets essentially gave up nothing but money – they are eating $4 million of Flexen’s contract – to acquire a little more bullpen depth as to not continue to run pitchers like Adam Ottavino, Brooks Raley and David Robertson into the ground.
All-in-all, I don’t think there’s actually much to react to here, though.
The Mets didn’t give up anything of significance here, and this is in absolutely no way an indication that the club is about to turn around and be buyers at the trade deadline. The owner himself just said less than a week ago that the team would not buy at the deadline if things didn’t change in a significant way in the team’s play and the postseason standings in the National League.
I know that this time of year we’re often so quick to serve up a hot take or give an instant, critical analysis to any move the Mets make (and trust me, the team does not deserve the benefit of the doubt right now) but not all moves are worthy of being micro-analyzed. To me, this is purely a depth move to help out the pitchers they already do have on the roster. Maybe the Mets will even look to flip Gott to a contender in a month if he rights himself over the next four weeks.
At the end of the day, this is a minor trade that isn’t all that likely to change anything for the Mets – and it’s not something worth getting riled up over in either direction. That doesn’t make for sexy headlines or driving clicks, but the facts are the facts.
Around the League 🚩
Angels CF Mike Trout exited the game with discomfort in his left wrist in the club’s 10-3 loss to the Padres
Braves RF Ronald Acuña stole his 40th base of the season in the team’s ninth consecutive win
The Yankees overcame a three-run deficit thanks to a three-run home run from Harrison Bader to defeat the Orioles, 6-3
Brewers 2B Jahmai Jones recorded his first big league hit in two years as the club came back from trailing 6-0 to knock off the Cubs
The claim that DR has been run into the ground is a claim without merit.
In 83 Met games, DR has pitched in 33 games (37 innings)
Top save leaders in games:
Clase 41
Romano 36
Diaz 39
Doval 39
Bautista 37
Estevez 35
Pressley 37
Hader 32
He has not been run into the ground.
DR is not young, but he has not been over-used.
Ottavino has appeared in 37 games and 34 innings;
not a very high load. He is just not any good, as he has no idea where the ball is going.
His 11% walk rate is dangerously high and the reason for his ineffectiveness.
The trade means one of the really bad relievers is sent back to Syracuse. That is something.