Mets need to go all-in on offense at the trade deadline
After substantially bolstering the bullpen on Wednesday, offense now needs to be the priority for New York. Plus, another loss in San Diego confirms the series sweep...
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What’s up with the Mets? ⚾️
The Mets were swept by the Padres, losing the series finale 5-0 in San Diego on Wednesday (box)
RHP Clay Holmes struggled on the mound, allowing four runs - two earned - on eight hits and two walks with three strikeouts in just 3.2 innings
RHP Reed Garrett, RHP Ryne Stanek, LHP Brooks Raley and RHP Rico Garcia combined to record the final 13 outs, allowing just one run in the process with five strikeouts
The offense managed just three hits all game, while drawing no walks and striking out nine times
The top four hitters - LF Brandon Nimmo, DH Mark Vientos, SS Francisco Lindor and 1B Pete Alonso - went a combined 2-for-15
Trades! 🗣️
The Mets bolstered their bullpen significantly by acquiring RHP Tyler Rogers from the Giants in exchange for RHP’s José Buttó and Blade Tidwell, and OF prospect Drew Gilbert (story)
New York then added another high-end arm to the bullpen, trading for RHP Ryan Helsley from the Cardinals in exchange for INF Jesus Baez, and RHP’s Nate Dohm and Frank Elissalt (story)
Injury Updates 🏥
C Francisco Álvarez cleared concussion protocol after leaving Wednesday’s game in the sixth inning due to taking a ball off the mask
OF Juan Soto (left foot contusion) was feeling better on Wednesday and could be back in the lineup on Friday after avoiding an IL stint
Rumor Mill 💨
The Mets intend to remain active even after a busy day on Wednesday. It is believed the front office are “pushing” for a bat (MLB.com)
New York is also determined to upgrade in center field, with Cedric Mullins and Luis Robert Jr. among their reported targets (NY Post)
RHP Mitch Keller - who was a reported target for the Mets - is likely to remain with the Pirates beyond the Trade Deadline (The Athletic)
The Astros “at least inquired” with the Mets about the availability of infielders Jeff McNeil, Brett Baty, and Ronny Mauricio (New York Post)
The Mets were among the teams to have engaged in talks with the A’s over flame-throwing closer Mason Miller (The Athletic)
Who’s Cold 🥶
The Mets offense has scored just two runs over their last 20 innings, producing just 10 hits in the last two losses
The Mets are averaging just 4.34 runs per game, which ranks 17th in all of baseball
1B Pete Alonso is hitting just .111/.138/.222 with seven strikeouts over his last seven games
SS Francisco Lindor is hitting just .164/.188/.284 with 19 strikeouts over his last 15 games
INF / OF Jeff McNeil is hitting .190/.370/.286 over his last seven games
Over his last seven games, in 12 at-bats, CF Tyrone Taylor is hitting just .000/.143/.000
RHP Clay Holmes is now pitching to a 4.90 ERA in six July starts - he hasn’t completed six innings in any of those outings
Play of the Game 🙃
The Mets were already trailing 0-2 when Gavin Sheets stepped to the plate in the bottom of the third.
With a runner on first and two outs, Sheets quickly found himself down in an 0-2 count. However, Mets RHP Clay Holmes had been running into trouble all game, and he was unable to get out of the inning unscathed.
Sheets launched a two-run shot 427 feet over the right center field wall to blow the game wide open.
With the offense struggling to get anything going, Sheets’ two-run blast was the final nail in the Mets’ coffin on another frustrating day in San Diego.
Down on the Farm 🌾
RHP Nolan McLean (No. 3 prospect, Triple-A): 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
RF Gilberto Celestino (Triple-A): 3-for-5, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 SB
LF Omar De Los Santos (Triple-A): 3-for-4, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 HR
RHP Jonah Tong (No. 2 prospect, Double-A): 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 8 K
OF Carson Benge (No. 4 prospect, Double-A): 3-for-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 HR, 1 SB
1B Ryan Clifford (No. 7 prospect, Double-A): 2-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 2B
SS Trey Snyder (No. 22 prospect, Single-A): 3-for-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 1 SB
BOX SCORES
Single-A STL | High-A BRK | Double-A BNG | Triple-A SYR
Today’s Game 🗓️
The Mets are off today and will head back to Citi Field to open up a three-game series against the Giants on Friday.
The Mets still have work to do if they want to truly be all-in… ✍️
If you forget about the game itself, Wednesday proved to be quite the day for the New York Mets.
The bullpen got a major overhaul thanks to president of baseball operations David Stearns recognizing that the market was rife with relievers, and then making a series of big-time moves in acquiring RHP Tyler Rogers from the Giants and RHP Ryan Helsley from the Cardinals while relinquishing six prospects to get both of them.
It became clear with both moves that the Mets are pushing all of their chips firmly into the middle of the table this year. New York has now created a super-bullpen, one that has the potential to be as deep and dominant as any in baseball.
This bullpen is now one that can help to fuel a World Series run. They have a championship-grade bullpen on paper for the rest of the year and clearly, both ownership and the front office believe the time is now for the Mets to go for it all.
You have to give in order to get, and the Mets are immediately better for the bullpen moves they made on Wednesday.
However, with that said, while the front office is off to a great start, more needs to be addressed before today’s 6 p.m. EDT deadline.
If the Mets are truly all-in - and Wednesday’s trades suggest that they very much are - they have to be uber-aggressive in addressing another real weakness today…
The offense.
While I still believe that this ballclub would benefit from obtaining another starter, that has now become less of a priority following the makeover to the bullpen.
Instead, Stearns should be going all out today to upgrade center field and maybe, just maybe, acquire another bat in order to fix a lineup that is clearly broken.
I mean, how can you say otherwise after what we just witnessed in San Diego?
The offense went ice cold yet again against good pitching, scoring a grand total of just one run in the last two losses against the Padres. They were shut out on Wednesday after recording just three hits, no walks, and nine strikeouts. The Mets didn’t get a baserunner past first until the ninth inning. Furthermore, the lineup went a combined 0-for-8 on Tuesday and Wednesday, leaving a total of 11 runners stranded on base.
This is a middling offense that offers average production, while stinking in clutch situations. The top of the lineup is way too streaky, as evidenced by the fact that both Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor have struggled since the All-Star break. Tyrone Taylor continues to offer nothing offensively out of center field, and the rest of the lineup can be hit or miss on any given night.
Plus, with Juan Soto out of the lineup on Wednesday night, it was clear to see that the offense had no answers against good pitching, or any pitching for that matter. That isn’t a good sign for the postseason.
Yes, you can’t win anything in October without good pitching. But you won’t win without offense, either.
That’s exactly why Stearns has to keep the same energy from Wednesday when addressing the offense today. Just acquiring Luis Robert Jr. or Cedric Mullins won’t be enough. Another bat will be needed to help solve what has been a fatal flaw all year long.
After all, this offense won’t fix itself.
If this team really is hellbent on going for it this year, Mullins would be the better option over Robert Jr., in my opinion. Yes, Mullins is having a down year, but he’s still hit 15 home runs and 18 doubles with 49 RBIs and 34 walks. He’s a threat on the basepaths and will offer solid defense out in center field. If you ask me, Mullins is the center field upgrade the Mets should be chasing.
Neither of them are particularly inspiring, however.
After that, there are options out there for another bat. Given the impressive prospect depth Stearns has built, could he use some of that to persuade the Braves to trade Marcell Ozuna in the division? Ozuna is a pure DH and some of his power has gone, but he still has 15 homers, 11 doubles, and 47 RBIs. Plus, with Jesse Winker unable to stay healthy, Ozuna would be a solid insurance policy at the DH position.
They’ve recently been connected to Rays INF Brandon Lowe, who would be a solid add for the Mets although he has struggled at second base this season.
Rangers outfielder Adolis García could be another option to upgrade the DH spot although he has massively regressed over the last couple of years himself, while former Met Harrison Bader is still out there too.
All in all, one bat isn’t going to fix an offense that clearly has problems. This lineup needs a lot of help if it is going to live up to expectations and help carry this team to the World Series.
One important thing to keep in mind today is the fact that Andy Martino of SNY has reported that the Mets are being aggressive now because they see the next two years as being their best shot to win a championship. With the 2027 season already in doubt because of a potential lockout, the next two years could be the final chance for this core to bring a World Series back to Queens.
So, operating under that logic, the Mets shouldn’t be afraid to part with more top prospect capital today. You can’t keep on stockpiling prospects, and not every young talent will work out. The front office has the prospect depth to be able to make a series of win-now moves, and they need to use that to their advantage before today’s deadline.
Because, if this team really is all-in to win this year and in 2026, then going all out to strengthen the lineup and fix a broken offense has to be the main priority today.
It just has to be.
Around the League 🚩
The Mariners agreed to acquire 3B Eugenio Suárez from the Diamondbacks in exchange for 1B Tyler Locklear (No. 9 prospect), RHP Hunter Cranton (No. 16), and RHP Juan Burgos (No. 17) (ESPN)
The Phillies made a major bullpen addition, trading for Twins RHP Jhoan Durán for RHP Mick Abel and C Eduardo Tait (ESPN)
RHP Shohei Ohtani left his start early on Wednesday, prompting fears, but cramps was revealed to be the issue, meaning serious injury was avoided
The Reds made a big splash, acquiring Gold Glove 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes from the Pirates for LHP Taylor Rogers, SS prospect Sammy Stafura, and cash considerations
It makes no difference who is added to this lineup because if the guys already in it don't start, I believe the expression is 'playing to the back of their player cards', the team won't be going anywhere. The core has been dreadful; the only fix is for them to become 'undreadful'. That's not to say that a CF bat won't be helpful, it's just that 'helpful' requires the core to produce.
I agree with everything that Mr. Steele said...except there's not really a good bat out there. Be surprised if Braves trade Ozuna to Mets. All the names that have been bandied about aren't likely to provide firepower. After Suarez, a huge dropoff in quality. I'd love to know what Stearns offered for him. Our only hope is that our stars start playing like stars.