MLB club official predicts when Mets will punt on 2024 season

It seems like individuals within MLB clubs believe it's a matter of when, not if, the New York Mets will become sellers and punt on the 2024 season ahead of the July 30 trade deadline.

"If the Mets decide to unload talent -- when they decide to unload, in all likelihood -- head of baseball operations David Stearns will be very popular among his peers," ESPN's Buster Olney said in a piece published on Monday. "'I think they'll get through the draft and the All-Star break before the Mets decide they are ready to trade,' one official said, 'and when they do, they'll be in the center of a lot.'"

Specifically, Olney mentioned star first baseman Pete Alonso, starting pitcher Jose Quintana, starter Luis Severino, starter Sean Manaea, outfielder Harrison Bader, relief pitcher Jake Diekman and reliever Adam Ottavino among players the Mets could make available between now and the end of July. 

Jimmy Hascup of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com noted all of those individuals are playing out the final season of their contracts. Manaea's deal includes a player option for 2025 worth $13.5M.

Before the Amazins improved to 28-36 on the season via Sunday's 6-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in London, Mets owner Steve Cohen insisted he is "focused on winning games right now" because "a lot can happen" before the trade deadline arrives. That same day, MLB insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today said that Alonso could be a "perfect fit" for the Seattle Mariners.

Alonso was linked with Seattle before Opening Day, and Olney suggested the Mariners could pursue the "Polar Bear" over the next month and a half.

"If the M's were to make a move for someone such as Pete Alonso -- who is making $20.5M this year -- could they convince the New York Mets to pick up some or all of the salary? This storyline could serve as an advantage for a team such as the Mets, who made trades like this last summer, or any contender that has budgeted some money in reserve at the deadline," Olney said.

Cohen signed off on a fire sale last summer that included eating millions upon millions of dollars to acquire prospects for co-aces Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer. Neither pitcher was as popular among Mets fans as Alonso, but Cohen could allow Stearns to trade the right-handed slugger and then attempt to re-sign him in free agency before Alonso turns 30 years old in December.

The Mets began Monday just three games back in the pursuit of a potential wild-card playoff berth, but they also possessed the third-worst winning percentage among National League teams (.438) at that time. In short, Alonso and others need to turn things around quickly if they want to remain with the Mets through the summer.