Two pitchers the Mets should consider other than Blake Snell

Plus, the bats go hit crazy in an impressive takedown of the Twins in the series opener...

NY Post

What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️

• The Mets shelled the Twins 15-2 to take the opening game of the series at Citi Field on Monday night (box)

• LHP José Quintana got the start and allowed just one earned run on five hits with one walk and five strikeouts in six innings of work

• RHP José Buttó pitched in relief the rest of the way, giving up one earned run (a solo home run) on four hits while walking one and striking out two in the final three innings of the game

• It was all about the offense for the Mets, who exploded for 15 runs and 17 hits on the night

• C Luis Torrens led the way with a 3-for-4 night with one run scored, three RBIs, a walk and a double

• 2B Jeff McNeil also had a monster night at the plate, finishing 2-for-4 with two runs scored, three RBIs and a double

• Amazingly, given the score, Pete Alonso had the only home run of the night for the Mets, along with a double, three runs scored, two RBIs and a walk

• OF Jesse Winker, who got the start in right field, finished 1-for-2 with a run scored and a walk

• Every single Mets hitter who appeared in the game, one-through-11, had at least one hit on the night, while the team went 8-for-17 with runners in scoring position

• New York had 10+ PA in two separate innings at home for the first time since 5/31/1976 (Sarah Langs)

• From the fourth through seventh innings, the Mets sent 33 men to the plate and scored 15 times

• Monday was the ninth time this year that the Mets have scored 10 runs or more in a single game

• The Mets have now won seven of 11 games since the All-Star break, and sit at 56-50

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Rumor Mill 💨

• The Mets have discussed the possibility of trading for White Sox right-handed reliever John Brebbia (The Athletic)

• New York is still looking to bolster the bullpen and they’ve also checked in on White Sox southpaw Tanner Banks (NY Post)

• The Mets are showing interest in Tanner Scott, the best reliever available (FanSided)

• Cubs RHP Jameson Taillon hasn’t been approached about being traded at this point (The Athletic)

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Playoff Race 🏁

The Mets are just a half game back of the Braves for the first Wild Card spot in the National League. They are tied with the Padres with both teams a half game ahead of the Diamondbacks. Both the Pirates and the Cardinals are a full two games back of the Mets.

There are 56 games remaining.

Per FanGraphs, the Mets have a 51.6% chance of making the postseason.

New York has the 10th easiest schedule in MLB the rest of the way

Tiebreakers:

• vs. ATL: 5-5

• vs. ARI: 2-2

• vs. STL: 3-2

• vs. SD: 3-0

• vs. CIN: 2-1

• vs. SF: 2-4 (finished)

• vs. PIT: 5-2 (finished)

• vs. CHC: 4-3 (finished)

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Injury Updates 🏥

• C Francisco Álvarez (left shoulder) was on the bench on Monday for the second time in three days, but was given the night off due to a persistent left shoulder issue

• RHP Sean Reid-Foley (right shoulder impingement) will make a rehab appearance for either Single-A Brooklyn or Double-A Binghamton on Wednesday

• RHP Reed Garrett (right elbow inflammation) will face hitters on Wednesday and could begin a rehab assignment shortly afterwards

• RHP Dedniel Núñez (right pronator strain) could start playing catch this week

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Who’s Hot 🔥

• Pete Alonso now has eight extra-base hits in 40 second-half at-bats, including two home runs, two doubles and four RBIs in his last two games

• After giving up just one earned run in six innings on Monday, José Quintana is now 5-1 with a 1.91 ERA over his last eight starts

• José Buttó has struck out six and allowed just one earned run on four hits in his last two outings, pitching three innings in each

• In his last seven games, Jeff McNeil is hitting .370/.379/.667/.1.046 with 10 hits, seven runs scored, five doubles, one home run and six RBIs

• Following a three-hit night on Monday, Luis Torrens ranks 1st in MLB batting average, 1st in slugging, 2nd in OPS, 2nd in wRC+ and 2nd in wOBA among catchers with at least 60 plate appearances

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Down on the Farm 🌾

All four Mets minor league affiliates were off on Monday

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Today’s Game 🗓

Match-up: Mets (56-50) vs. Twins (58-47)

Where: Citi Field - Flushing, NY

Starters: LHP Sean Manaea (6-4, 3.74 ERA) vs. RHP David Festa (1-1, 8.16 ERA)

When: 7:10 PM EDT

Where to Watch: SNY

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Two pitchers the Mets should consider over Blake Snell… ✍️

Happy Trade Deadline Day to all those who celebrate!

Today is the final day contenders and playoff hopefuls can bolster their rosters and make additions they hope will push them over the top.

For the Mets, the mission on Tuesday is clear.

They need to acquire a starter for the rotation, in addition to trading for more bullpen help.

Given how in demand pitching is, it will be fascinating to see if president of baseball operations David Stearns and the rest of the front office can pull off a significant move or two today.

However, there is some debate as to how aggressive the Mets should be at the trade deadline.

Given the fact that the Mets do look like a team capable of creating some magic in October, there are some out there who believe the front office should throw the previous playbook out of the window and go for broke today.

You can include our own Justin Mears in that segment. As Justin wrote on Monday, he feels like the Mets should swing a Yoenis Cespedes-like deal and go all out for Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. Now that would be something.

However, while I appreciate that sentiment, I think giving up a boatload of prospect capital for anyone today would be a big mistake by the Mets. And, on a side note, I personally think the Tigers would be crazy to trade Skubal full stop. If you have a legit ace like that in your ballclub, you build around him and surround him with talent. You certainly don’t trade him.

Anyway, this is a Mets newsletter, not a Tigers one, so moving on…

I do see the merit in the Mets being uber-aggressive given what this team has accomplished up to this point. I do. This team has looked legit for a sustained period of time now and they do deserve the opportunity to go all the way and see what magic could transpire in the postseason. I’m on board with that.

But, on the flipside to that, Stearns very clearly has a long-term plan with the Mets and I don’t think that should be jeopardized on one day. After all, there is every chance the Mets could end up missing out on a Wild Card spot by a game or two given how tight this race is. It doesn’t seem likely right now, but it could happen.

Plus, the price for any starter today is going to be higher than it should be given the skyscraper-high demand for pitching. You would have to literally give up the farm for an elite ace like Skubal or Garrett Crochet.

Even if you move down the list, someone like Blake Snell, who New York has been linked with, will command a lot in return. According to multiple reports, the Giants wouldn’t be willing to pay down Snell’s contract, which includes a $30 million player option in 2025, and they would be expecting to get back some top prospects. Now, as great as Snell has been as of late - allowing just two earned runs on eight hits while walking seven and striking out 30 over his last four starts with a stellar 0.75 ERA - he’s also been bad for the majority of the year.

I wouldn’t be happy if the Mets gave up significant prospects and money for a starter who has had only four good outings this year, despite his track record.

If the Mets are going to add a starter today - and they need to - two names make a lot more sense to me.

Cubs RHP Jameson Taillon is 7-6 with a 3.35 ERA this year with 82 strikeouts in 104.2 innings pitched. Okay, so he has allowed 14 earned runs in his last five outings, including six in his last start. However, Taillon can go deep into games, something the Mets desperately need, and he knows what it takes to pitch in New York having spent two years with the Yankees. That’s important. Plus, he’s under team control through the 2026 season so he wouldn’t just be a pure rental.

NY Post

Another potential option I really like is a reunion with Chris Bassitt.

The Blue Jays are selling off pieces at a high clip and I would imagine Bassitt would be available at the right price. The righty has a 3.78 ERA this year with 112 strikeouts in 119 innings pitched. Okay, granted, his walk rate has risen to 9.0% this year, but all of his other numbers are where you would expect them to be. He’s played for the Mets before so he knows the expectations that come with pitching in New York, and he won’t need a lot of time to adjust to his new surroundings. You have to take those kind of intangibles into consideration too. Bassitt is earning $22 million this year and again in 2025, so the Mets would need to eat money. But, given you know what you are going to get with Bassitt, including the fact he eats innings, I think it would be worth it and you wouldn’t have to give up too much prospect capital in return.

USA Today Sports

Now, some would argue that if the Mets eat a lot of Snell’s money, they probably wouldn’t have to destroy the prospect pipeline too much. And owner Steve Cohen certainly has the means to make a deal like that happen. But, again, I just think Snell is too flashy an option and his overall track record in 2024 isn’t great.

It isn’t sexy and I know some Mets fans won’t like this, but I think the smartest move today for the Mets would be to acquire a solid veteran starter like a Taillon or a Bassitt that won’t cost the earth, while making one or two more bullpen moves. That, coupled with the additions already of Phil Maton, Ryne Stanek and Jesse Winker, would represent a job well done by the front office.

I’ll finish with this.

Just look at what the Astros had to give up in order to acquire Yusei Kikuchi from the Blue Jays. They parted with three players, including their No. 9 and No. 13 prospects for a 33-year-old starter who has hardly dominated this year with a 4.75 ERA.

That alone will only ramp up the price for some of the sexier names still available today, and I don’t think the Mets should be swimming in those waters.

Sure, acquiring one of the best starters available and a big name would make everyone feel good in the moment. But, there is also such a thing as buyers remorse and I just think it would be foolish to harm Stearns’ long-term vision for the now.

Sometimes, the less-heralded option is best. And that should be the Mets’ mentality at the trade deadline today.

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Around the League 🚩

• Aaron Judge blasted a pair of home runs and now sits on 99 RBIs for the year as the Yankees routed the Phillies 14-4 at Citizens Bank Park

• Bobby Witt Jr. highlighted his MVP credentials with a four-hit day, including a game-winning grand slam and two stellar defensive plays in the field

• Pirates rookie phenom Paul Skenes made history on Monday after striking out his 100th Major League batter, needing just 13 games to reach that milestone. He becomes the sixth pitcher in the modern era to do so

• The Braves pulled off a big trade on Monday, acquiring OF Jorge Soler and RHP Luke Jackson from the Giants. Both players were on the Atlanta team that won the 2021 World Series

• The Astros sent an absolute haul - including their No. 9 prospect - to the Blue Jays for LHP Yusei Kikuchi

• The Cardinals acquired OF Tommy Pham and RHP Erick Fedde as part of a three-team trade with the White Sox and the Dodgers, with LA receiving RHP Michael Kopech from Chicago and INF / OF Tommy Edman and pitching prospect Oliver Gonzales from St. Louis

• The Seattle Mariners added another bat to their lineup, acquiring veteran Justin Turner from the Blue Jays

• The Guardians also boosted their postseason dreams by trading for OF Lane Thomas from the Nationals