The rumor mill is heating up as the Mets head to San Francisco

The Mets return to action tonight out west. Plus, specific problem solvers for the Mets ahead of the trade deadline

Check out The Just Mets Trade Deadline Guide (paid subscribers only) — a breakdown of over 50 potential trade targets the Mets could pursue by July 31st.

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What’s up with the Mets? ⚾️

• The Mets were off on Thursday - they open a three-game series with the Giants tonight at Oracle Park

• Despite his recent struggles, the Mets have no plans to move RHP Clay Holmes to the bullpen (NY Post)

• The club officially announced they signed 18 players from the 2025 Draft (Mets)

• Even though he suffered an unfortunate injury the last time he participated, RHP Edwin Díaz is open to the idea of playing in the next World Baseball Classic (NY Post)

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Rumor Mill 💨

• The Diamondbacks have been scouting Mets prospects in Double-A for a potential Eugenio Suárez trade. Harrison Bader could also be a fit (SNY)

• The Mets are not in on Suarez but are prioritizing the bullpen instead (NY Post)

• The Mets are reportedly one of the teams that have checked in on White Sox OF Luis Robert Jr. (Sports Illustrated)

• New York has also checked in on RHP Mitch Keller and RHP Luis Severino (SNY)

• The Mets are among several teams to check in on a trade for Dylan Cease (ESPN)

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Down on the Farm 🌾

The Mets Top 30 Prospect Rankings List has been updated by MLB Pipeline ahead of the Trade Deadline (MLB.com)

• RHP Nolan McLean (No. 3 prospect, Triple-A): 7.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K

• 3B Luke Ritter (Triple-A): 3-for-4, 2 runs, 2B

• RHP Jonah Tong (No. 2 prospect, Double-A): 5.0 IP, 3 H, ER, 0 BB, 6 K

BOX SCORES

Single-A STL PPD | High-A BRK | Double-A BNG | Triple-A SYR

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Today’s Game 🗓️

Match-up: Mets (59-44) vs. Giants (54-49)

Where: Oracle Park - San Francisco, CA

Starters: RHP Clay Holmes (8-5, 3.48 ERA) vs. RHP Logan Webb (9-7, 3.08 ERA)

When: 10:15 PM EDT

Where to Watch: WPIX

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How can the Mets solve multiple big needs in six days before the trade deadline? ✍️

It is no secret that the Mets have multiple needs heading into the trade deadline.

Starting pitching, bullpen help, a third baseman, and a centerfielder are all on David Stearns’s shopping list to improve the team heading into the home stretch of the season. While it would be phenomenal if Stearns could somehow fulfill all their needs, the more likely scenario is that he will need to prioritize what will help the team the most.

1. Starting pitching
   
   As the old adage goes, you can never have enough starting pitching, and the Mets proved that this season. Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas, Kodai Senga, Tylor Megill, and Paul Blackburn have all spent time on the IL this season. Manaea, Montas, and Senga have all returned, but the team has to be careful with their fragile rotation. Clay Holmes is also starting to show some fatigue and could eventually find his way back into the bullpen. The rotation has also struggled getting deep into games, which puts more pressure on the bullpen. Adding another quality arm could, in turn, also strengthen the relief corps simply by giving them less work and more rest. It also gives the team more protection just in case another injury pops up.
   
   We continue to talk about Mitch Keller, and for good reason because teams like the Mets, Dodgers, and Yankees are among the very few that could be willing to absorb a multi-year contract. The question, of course, is the prospect capital going back to Pittsburgh for Keller in a high-demand market where literally every contender is looking for starting pitching. Keller profiles as a mid-rotation starter, which would serve as good packing for the Mets rotation, but is he the ace that the prospect capital would likely call for? Not so sure about that, but that might still not matter for teams that need a reliable arm.
   
   There’s also Sandy Alcantara, who has the resume of an ace but is in year one back from Tommy John surgery after not pitching for a year and a half. He’s been better lately but not good overall this year, but the medium-term upside (he’s under team control through 2027) for Alcantara is undeniably tantalizing, even if he might not be a big factor for them in 2025, assuming the Mets can’t work with him on adjustments.
   
   Then, of course, there’s Zac Gallen, who would be a rental in trade coming from the Diamondbacks. He’s had a generally miserable season, which is in part why the Diamondbacks are selling. Could he be had in a buy-low situation and a pitcher for the Mets to fix? Is this the time for the Mets to be fixing pitchers?

2. Relievers
   
   Relievers, most notably left-handed relievers, should be another top priority, if not the top priority in the bullpen.
   
   Ever since AJ Minter’s injury, the Mets have been lacking a quality left-handed option in the ‘pen. They recently got Brooks Raley back, and he has been great so far, but coming back from Tommy John is never easy and the Mets simply cannot rely on him to be a primary reliever at this stage of his recovery.
   
   They could use another lefty and another shutdown arm to set up Edwin Díaz. Reed Garrett, Ryne Stanek, and Huascar Brazobán have all been tried in that role, and while there have been some successes, there have also been a lot of failures. They are overworked, and the relievers could use some relief. Ideally, the team could use a couple of arms, but a quality set-up man would have a great impact on the rest of the bullpen.
   
   There’s been a lot of noise around the Twins supply of relievers in Griffin Jax, Jhoan Duran, and Danny Coulombe. They’d all fill the needs the Mets are looking to fill although Coulombe is the only left-handed reliever in this group.
   

3. Third base
   
   The retirement of David Wright’s number made something else unfortunately stand out. The Mets have not had a franchise third baseman since….David Wright. When Brett Baty was in the minors, he had the potential to take over that role but has never seized the opportunity. Mark Vientos instead seemed to pass Baty to become the team’s starting third baseman, but underperformance and injury put that into question this year. In fairness to both, they have both started hitting recently. Over his last 15 games, Baty is hitting .333/.409/.615 with three home runs and five RBIs, and over his last 7 games, Vientos is hitting .280/.308/.400 with one RBI.
   
   The problem is, aside from Eugenio Suárez, who can the Mets find right now at third? The options beyond Suárez aren’t a lot different than what they already have.
   
   The team needs another bat, but if those two continue to produce or can at least be competent, then third base becomes less of a need as the deadline approaches and they could perhaps find another bat elsewhere (see below).
   

4. Centerfield
   
   This positions has been the primary offensive hole for the Mets, although it’s not the only one.
   
   The Mets have had to patch together centerfield ever since José Siri went down with injury in April. While an outstanding fielder, Tyrone Taylor has struggled at the plate, hitting just .209/.264/.306 with 2 home runs and 17 RBIs this season. If the team had a more balanced lineup, they could perhaps live with his bat in the lineup, but there are too many hitters struggling that he can only be a late-inning defensive replacement right now. The team has been playing Jeff McNeil in centerfield to keep his bat in the lineup. He has been serviceable in the outfield and has been solid at the plate. With him in the outfield, this frees up the infield for Baty, Vientos, and Ronny Mauricio.
   
   Upgrading centerfield would bring some stability, but they have enough personnel to make it work, which frees Stearns up to focus elsewhere. Maybe the Mets can find a centerfielder which would move McNeil back into a super-utility role. Maybe they can find a second baseman, a designated hitter, or a hybrid player who can move in and out of the infield, outfield and DH spot and leave McNeil out there.
   
   No matter what though, they need find another bat but they at least don’t have to stick to finding a centerfielder which would limit their options.

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Around the League 🚩

• The Mariners acquired 1B Josh Naylor from the Diamondbacks in the first big move of the Trade Deadline

• The Orioles placed closer Félix Bautista on the 15-day IL with right shoulder discomfort

• RHP Jesse Chávez announced his retirement from baseball after 18 seasons in the majors

• After their 11-4 defeat of the Tigers, the Blue Jays now have the best record in the American League

• The Yankees have discussed a potential Oneil Cruz trade with the Pirates (MLB.com)