The New York Mets are poised to strengthen their bullpen further before July 30 following their acquisition of relief pitcher Phil Maton, as reported by ESPN’s Jorge Castillo.
Castillo noted that Mets star Pete Alonso recently indicated the team’s next move will hinge on their performance leading up to the trade deadline.
“Baseball insiders expect the Mets to continue shoring up their struggling bullpen after bringing in Phil Maton last week,” Castillo wrote. “However, Pete Alonso’s remarks this week suggest their strategy may depend on their upcoming games. Despite climbing into the third wild-card spot, Alonso, who becomes a free agent this winter, stressed the critical importance of the next two weeks.”
Alonso emphasized to the New York Post’s Mark W. Sanchez that the Mets must prove themselves worthy of adding reinforcements. “We’ve been resilient, but these next two weeks are crucial,” Alonso said. “We need to earn the right to be buyers. It’s a pivotal moment for us.”
Once a focal point of trade rumors when the Mets struggled earlier this season, Alonso’s leadership has been pivotal in their recent resurgence, propelling them into playoff contention.
The Mets have faced challenges in their bullpen, with Jake Diekman posting a 5.53 ERA and Edwin Diaz at 4.05 ERA this season, exacerbated by injuries to Drew Smith and Brooks Raley.
While the return of Kodai Senga, the 2023 NL Rookie of the Year runner-up, promises a boost, the Mets may still seek external help to fortify their relief pitching. Their bullpen ERA of 7.49 since July 1 ranks last in MLB.
Should the Mets pursue bullpen upgrades via trade, they have surplus starters like Sean Manaea, Jose Quintana, and potentially Luis Severino to offer, as per previous reports from Jon Heyman and Mike Puma of the New York Post.
The decision on whether to pursue such trades could hinge on the Mets’ upcoming games against the Miami Marlins, New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, and Minnesota Twins before the trade deadline.