The Mets may not be sellers yet, and a lackluster Subway Series
Trade rumors galore as New York may not be ready to sell quite yet. Plus, as juiceless of a Subway Series match-up as we've seen.
What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️
The Mets were off on Monday and kick-off the second round of the 2023 Subway Series vs the Yankees tonight in the Bronx
New York is not ready to be sellers quite yet, according to rival executives who have inquired (SNY)
David Robertson is not excited about the possibility of being traded (Newsday)
Mets No. 7 ranked prospect Calvin Ziegler tore his right quad and is expected to miss the remainder of the 2023 season (MMO)
Roster Moves 🗞️
LHP Josh Walker optioned to Triple-A Syracuse
RHP Elieser Hernández recalled from Triple-A Syracuse
Today’s Game 🗓
Match-up: Mets (46-53) at Yankees (53-47)
Starting pitchers: RHP Justin Verlander (4-5, 3.47 ERA) vs. RHP Domingo Germán (5-6, 4.42 ERA)
Where: Yankee Stadium – Bronx, NY
When: 7:05 PM EDT
Where to Watch: SNY, TBS
As lackluster a Subway Series match-up as it gets… ✍️
The Mets and Yankees face-off against each other tonight and to be frank, I’m not quite sure that anyone really cares. The last time I was this unenthused about a subway, I was getting ready for my morning commute to work.
In the second edition of the Subway Series in 2023, both New York City clubs are mired in mediocrity. The Yankees are “only” six games over .500 — which constitutes a bad season for them. They’re a team that has been juiceless since Aaron Judge went down with an injury nearly two months ago and find themselves in last place in the AL East and 2.5 games out of a postseason spot.
As always, though, the Mets’ version of a bad season always seems to be far worse, as the National League squad would be six games behind the Yankees in the standings, is seven games under .500, 18.5 games out of first place and seven games out of the final Wild Card spot.
To say that it’s been a disastrous season for New York baseball would be putting it kindly as these two organizations have invested over $628 million in their combined payrolls this year, yet would both miss the postseason if the season ended today.
I, for one, have always argued that in most seasons there was still juice for the Subway Series. In years where only one of the teams is good (which has more often been the Yankees) it’s all about the worse team trying to knock them off for those coveted bragging rights. In years where both clubs are good, as we saw last year, the energy can be palpable as the games carry an even bigger feeling to them. Even when both teams aren’t having their best seasons, they can normally act as a highlight to an otherwise doldrum year.
This year just feels different, though. Both teams have been mediocre-to-bad in a season where both were expected to do big things, and it’s just hard to get up for a two-game series when the reality of the situation is so bleak. The last time these two teams played each other there was something missing, and the result of the series did nothing to change the trajectory of either club.
Since the first chapter of the 2023 Subway Series in June, the Mets and Yankees both have an identical record of 14-17.
So, if you are someone who is finding excitement ahead of tonight’s Subway Series, more power to you. For me, though, I just see it as another stop on a train ride to nowhere.
Around the League 🚩
The Dbacks and Orioles are showing interest in Angels RHP/DH Shohei Ohtani if he is made available at the trade deadline (Morosi)
The Brewers survived another homer by Reds rookie phenom Ellie De La Cruz thanks to a walk-off single by OF Christian Yelich
Orioles CF Colton Cowser recorded the game-winning hit in the 9th inning to cap off a wild 3-2 win over the Phillies
The Astros won a 10-9 slugfest vs the Rangers to pull within two games of first place in the AL West
The Dodgers have “long been enamored” by the prospect of trading for Cardinals 3B Nolan Arenado (ESPN)
The Braves are interested in acquiring Red Sox OF Adam Duvall, who has already had two previous stints with the club (Mass Live)