Insider assesses if Mets will be 'irresponsible' with trade deadline deals

Then again, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan explained why the Mets don't have to be as cautious as most other clubs when assessing the contracts they take on during a July 3 appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.

"[The Mets] need a bat. Maybe it's a center fielder, maybe it's an infielder. Whatever it is, the Mets needs quite a bit of help right now," Passan said. He later added, "When Steve Cohen is your owner and it's an uncapped sport, you can do whatever you want.

"Now, are they going to be financially irresponsible, as perhaps they were in past seasons? I mean, I think Steve Cohen has learned a lesson from that," Passan added. "And if you look at the way he spends, the superstar players, he has no problem giving large sums of money to. But it's those bottom, middle-tier guys who he doesn't want to overpay for."

Given how talented the Mets' roster currently is, most believe they don't need to make a major splash at the deadline, especially for another hitter. But adding a top-tier pitcher, either in the rotation or the bullpen, could be the missing puzzle piece New York needs.