Analyst believes Mets could be active trade-deadline team

For a piece published Thursday, Jim Bowden of The Athletic explained that the New York Mets could make multiple moves ahead of the July 30 MLB trade deadline, some of which may upset pockets of fans.

"The Mets are only a half-game out of a wild-card spot, which has essentially taken (All-Star first baseman) Pete Alonso off the trade market," Bowden wrote. "However, they are keeping an open mind and might end up doing some buying and selling at the trade deadline. If they find a trade that could really help them long term, they’ll consider it, but they also might just add a few pieces, particularly a starting pitcher and relief depth, to try to make the playoffs this year."

It was thought when the Mets were 28-37 on the night of June 11 that the club could make out-of-contract players such as Alonso, starting pitcher Jose Quintana and starter Luis Severino available to advertised contenders. 

However, New York went into Thursday's home game versus the 42-51 Washington Nationals at 46-45. The Mets close the opening half of the season with three home matchups against the lowly Colorado Rockies (33-60).

While Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns acquired right-handed relief pitcher Phil Maton from the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, New York probably could still use additional bullpen help if only to take some pressure off closer Edwin Diaz. Some have suggested the Mets could get creative by trying to trade a starter for a reliever with ace Kodai Senga seemingly close to making his 2024 MLB regular-season debut.

Senga suffered a moderate capsule strain in the back of his right shoulder during spring training.

Stearns hinted this week that the Mets will go to a six-man rotation when Senga is ready to face big-league opposition. Such a strategy could make it more likely that the Amazins will buy and not sell before the final Tuesday of July arrives.

"I think they’re going to go for it and buy," an unnamed American League executive "who has been in touch with the Mets in recent weeks" told MLB insider Andy Martino of SNY earlier this week. 

With that said, New York could be one losing streak away from Stearns deciding to punt on 2024 with 2025 and even 2026 in mind.