What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️
The Mets held on to win a nail biter against the Braves on Sunday by a score of 10-9 (box)
The Mets got a strong start from the resurgent Nolan McLean on Sunday - allowed only two earned runs over six innings for his sixth win of the year
Brooks Raley and Luke Weaver each gave the Mets a scoreless inning of work - Weaver has not allowed a run since April 30, a span of 23 appearances over 25 innings
The Mets decided to inject Huascar Brazoban into the game in the ninth inning in a 10-3 game, and he was rusty as he allowed five runs and committed an error in the process
Devin Williams stranded the tying and winning runs after allowing a run himself to stave off Atlanta’s ninth inning rally. In total, Brazoban and Williams combined to allow six runs in the ninth inning
Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto and Bo Bichette combined to go 6-for-13 with a double, six RBI, and five runs scored at the top of the Mets lineup
Injury Updates 🏥
OF Luis Robert Jr. (lumbar spine inflammation) is expected to remain on his rehab assignment for the duration of his 20-day allotment
INF Jorge Polanco (left achilles) is expected to serve exclusively as the team’s designated hitter whenever he returns
Play of the Game 🤦♂️
Yesterday’s game for the Mets served as another example of exactly how bad the club is this season. They committed three errors and nearly blew a seven-run lead in the ninth inning.
But because they won, I’ll give the play of the game to Devin Williams for actually getting the last out of the game by striking out former Met Dominic Smith and somehow allowing the Mets to salvage the final game of this terrible three-game series against the Braves and sparing the Mets from another humiliating defeat.
The Just Mets Podcast 🎙️
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Down on the Farm 🌾
OF Nick Morabito (no. 10 prospect, AAA): 2-for-3, HR, RBI, 2 R
LHP Jonathan Santucci (no. 7 prospect, AA): 6 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 4 BB, 10 K (L)
LHP Caden Hunter (High-A): 6 IP, 1 R, 6 H, 2 BB, 5 K
OF Branny De Oleo (Low-A): 1-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R
BOX SCORES
Single-A STL | High-A BRK (SUSP) | Double-A BNG | Triple-A SYR
Today’s Game 🗓
Match-up: Mets (37-53) at Braves (52-36)
Where: Truist Park — Atlanta, GA
Starters: RHP Freddy Peralta (5-7, 4.81 ERA) vs. RHP Reynaldo López (4-1, 3.31 ERA)
When: 7:15 PM EDT
Where to Watch: SNY
Trade (most of) ‘em all! ✍️
Fortunately for me anyway, I was on vacation and out of the country with my family all week last week, so I was spared the ugliness that was on display with the Mets during their series in Toronto and for most of this series in Atlanta. However, I did follow along even if it was from a distance, and unquestionably muttered some things under my breath as I saw the scores progress and several folks text me along the way about how aggravating this road trip has been, which is pretty much as aggravating as the entire season.
As such, it would be unfair for me to comment on what I haven’t seen this week, as much as I’d like to discuss yesterday’s ridiculous win in which the Mets did everything they could possibly do to lose and yet somehow managed to survive and win.
Maybe that’s all you really need to hear from me on that subject.
We all know how bad the Mets are. So does the owner, so does the GM. They are probably the worst team in baseball this season, and unquestionably the most disappointing team in the game this season. Their record doesn’t indicate how bad they are because it isn’t yet the worst mathematically, but I am pretty sure every team in baseball is better, including the Rockies and Angels who have become two of the most laughable teams in the industry over the last decade.
At any rate, my value is probably best served today in discussing the trade deadline and where I think the Mets might stand in the marketplace with a week to go before the All-Star Game.
In short, everything should be on the table minus Juan Soto, AJ Ewing, Carson Benge, and Nolan McLean. I am even throwing Francisco Lindor into the mix of people who should be made available now even if there’s probably no chance he gets moved and Steve Cohen already saying he isn’t moving Lindor.
As long as we are on the subject of Lindor, I’ll say this. He’s the best shortstop this franchise has ever had, he’s a future Hall of Famer in all probability, they did give up a ton to get him albeit years ago, he’s been a staple for this team since 2021, among the best players to ever put on the uniform, and so on and os forth. But, if they were willing to move on from Brandon Nimmo and Pete Alonso specifically, two homegrown, blue-chip players who were far from the main problem last year (obviously, right?), they need to take the same position on Lindor. I think they’d be trading him for pennies on the dollar considering his injury-marred season and his generally uninspiring play to date, plus the weight of his contract on top of it. But, putting him on the block doesn’t at all mean he will get moved. They just have to be open to it because this franchise is an utter mess and it’s time for some fresh ideas.
The rest are generally easy albeit with some complications. So, let’s get started…
BULLPEN
This is the easiest part of the roster to offload, although I never get too excited on the returns teams get for anything other than an elite closer, and the Mets simply don’t have that available this summer. There is absolutely no reason to hold onto any of Huascar Brazoban, Brooks Raley, Luke Weaver, AJ Minter, or Devin Williams this summer since the Mets are going nowhere and these kinds of relievers are usually in high demand at the trade deadline.
I think Weaver could garner the best return since he has been among the best relievers in baseball, has experience closing, and comes with extra value considering he would be retained beyond this season. And, the Mets should absolutely exercise that value if possible.
Williams is a tougher sell since he hasn’t been great overall, and that mediocrity is an extension of the mediocrity from last season, his first season as a closer in New York with the Yankees. He also has two years of control beyond 2026. He therefore might have more value to the Mets than any other team, at least for the 2027 season. But if they can find a taker now, which is always possible, I wouldn’t hesitate if I were them.
The rest are all expendable and have a ton of trade value. Raley and Minter can all walk at the end of the year but would fit nicely as left-handed relievers on almost any contender. Brazoban has been outstanding this year outside of his blip yesterday, and is both cheap and controllable through 2030.
ROTATION
Again, the only piece the Mets should be holding onto here is Nolan McLean. Everyone else should be available, even at a discount if only to clear roster spots for their pitching prospects in the minors.
It’s looking more and more like Clay Holmes will pitch again this season, which makes him an instantly valuable trade chip in an always thin starting pitching market. He can opt out at the end of the year, and if he comes back and finishes strong, that’s an easy bet to take considering he is due $12 million next year if he stays in the final year of the original three-year contract he signed with the Mets before the 2025 season, and has been twice as good as that since he transitioned into a starter.
Sean Manaea is an interesting case. He’s had a topsy-turvy season between his velocity, his role, his overall performance in multiple roles, etc. He also has $7.75 million of his $25 million salary in each season of his three-year contract deferred to 2035-2044, which could be unattractive baggage for a potential suitor. Something tells me his complicated situation will keep him here, but he’s left-handed and again, starting pitching is hard to find out there. If the Mets can agree to financial terms that are palatable with a trade partner, this situation becomes easier to digest.
Then there’s Kodai Senga, who isn’t a starter anymore. He’s had a couple of good relief outings lately, but who knows how long that’ll last. I don’t see the Mets trading him, but I can definitely see the Mets cutting him in August unless something dramatically changes for the better and he becomes more valuable between now and then. He will make $14 million next year whether he stays or goes, but Senga is a big reason why the Mets have been in the tank for more than a year. That’s the cold truth about his situation.
Then of course there’s Freddy Peralta, who will definitely be available and is all but sure to be traded. He has had a bad year with the Mets, but he is still a good pitcher with a strong track record. A change of scenery to a better team with a better culture will undoubtedly serve him well. There’s no way the Mets will be able to recoup the value they gave up to get him, but they have to move him and get what they can back in return.
I’d also listen on Christian Scott, although I think they’ll hold onto him and see what he looks like into next season. He’s young, has a ton of upside, is cheap and he’s someone they should be working to develop.
The Mets trading David Peterson for a pretty good prospect in Cole Mathis will hopefully signal that the starting pitching market is robust right now, and the Mets can find a couple of 7-12 prospects for Holmes and Peralta specifically.
Now, if they can just develop those prospects, but that’s a story for another day.
EVERYONE ELSE
Yep, everyone else should be on the table. That doesn’t mean the Mets can or will trade everyone else. Marcus Semien is on the shelf, and he wasn’t movable anyway. Jorge Polanco isn’t going anywhere either. Nobody in their right mind would ever trade for either Mark Vientos or Brett Baty since they’ve been two of the worst players in baseball specifically this season.
I bet they hold onto both of them for now, try to trade them in November even if it’s for nothing but a bag of balls, and then non-tender them if they can’t find a taker.
But, Tyrone Taylor can be an attractive fourth outfielder/defensive replacement for a contender. He doesn’t have a lot of trade value, but he is a free agent at the end of the year, and it’s time to clear this roster spot, which has more value to the Mets right now potentially than anything they get back.
I touched on Bo Bichette last week a little bit, and I said he had a big month ahead of him as far as building some sort of trade value is concerned. But, he has been quite good offensively since May 18 (.309/.347/.509) and passable at a minimum defensively at two positions this season. The Mets have paid $40 of his $42 million salary for 2026 in the form of a signing bonus already, so he would be due a shade under $1 million from a potential suitor for this year. The problem is he has a full no-trade clause and this crazy opt-out, which would result in a $5 million buyout which is deferred from 2036 through 2040. So, any suitor would have to view Bichette as a rental and be wary of the $42 million opt-in he has for the 2027 and 2028 seasons, which is a hefty price tag to consider. He also cannot receive a qualifying offer since he got one last year from the Blue Jays.
So, easier said than done when it comes to Bichette.
So, let’s see what the next month or so brings for this franchise. I am not going to sit here and over-dramatize or sensationalize this as being a pivotal time for the franchise. We have seen this movie before - just look back to 2023 for the most recent reference. But I can’t understate the importance for this organization to completely rethink not only their roster, but their entire culture and philosophy as well. That begins with rebooting this major league roster this summer, seeing what these kids - which they touted all year and all winter last year - can do at this level, and assessing what they have to do from an organization-building perspective from there.
Around the League 🚩
The Marlins removed RHP Eury Pérez after seven perfect innings and had to hold on for a 9-8 win over the A’s
Casey Mize pitched into the seventh inning in the Tigers 6-3 win over the Rangers
The Reds held off a late surge from the Orioles in a 3-2 nail biter in Cincinnati
The Pirates scored five runs in the eighth and two in the ninth to rally for an 11-5 win over the Nationals to move to 46-45 on the year
I agree with everything said here but would also include Juan Soto. He may be a great player, but his lackadaisical attitude is poison on a team of younger players.
I can’t remember a trade that the Mets have done where they kept one prospect over another and the prospect they kept turned out to be the better player. It’s happened many times and been done by many different front offices. I could be wrong but it just seems that way. Either way, haven’t been to a game all year, and watched almost none. There was a time where i would at least watch almost every single game. That time has past.