The lottery odds to get a top six pick for the worst three records is 86.3%. For the fourth-worst record, it is 80.2%. Fifth worst, where the Mets are at the time of writing this, drops all the way down to 63% and the sixth-worst record falls to only 51.4%.

It heavily benefits the Mets to not win games. (This is similar to the 2023 season.) That also does not mean they have to, or should lose every game. They can prioritize development while the players still do everything they can to try to win games.

I will be clear when I say the Mets should not be actively throwing games. They should not be purposefully putting players in bad situations that solely hurt their performance. That has its own negative repercussions. Some players are working towards their next contracts. Others are building their Hall of Fame cases. The Mets need to still do right by their players and do everything they can to help them succeed.

But their overall focus should be first and foremost on development, followed by building towards 2027.

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Players Should Learn New Positions

The Mets need to play and use players in positions they are not familiar with more often. They need players who are typically platoon guys to face same-handed pitching more. They need to let pitchers get into trouble and let them work through that trouble. They need to let relievers who have not had experience with high-leverage situations get that experience.

In July, the Mets lost a game because of Brett Baty’s defense in the outfield. Some portions of the media complained that the Mets let a game slip away by continuing the Baty outfield experiment and need to stop that. That is the exact opposite takeaway the Mets should be taking. Brett Baty is much more valuable to the 2027 Mets if he is a capable outfielder. The only way he is going to improve there is by playing it. In a stretch of games where it does not benefit you to win, you should be working on developing players at positions they are unfamiliar with.

Here are some examples (with some out-of-left-field suggestions):

• Have A.J. Ewing, Francisco Lindor and Bo Bichette get reps at second base.
• Let Francisco Alvarez try first base. Maybe even third base.
• If Eric Wagaman returns to the majors he should get reps across the infield and be in the lineup more than he has been.
• Luis Robert Jr. should definitely try a first baseman’s glove on and play in the corners. Having versatility on the roster only benefits the Mets going forward and this is the time to work on that.
• You could even make an argument that Juan Soto should get some experience at first base when he returns, but that is a much harder sell on likely a short timeline.

Now, I would not continue to start Baty in the outfield when Christian Scott specifically is on the mound. Scott is a fly ball pitcher you want to develop for the future. Sean Manaea, meanwhile, is still under contract next year and is not playing for Hall of Fame status. He is also a veteran that can handle a misplayed ball in the outfield. I also would not experiment when Nolan McLean is on the mound if the Mets think he has a real shot at rookie of the year because of the benefits of the prospect promotion incentive pick.

Jack Wenninger. Photo by Herm Card

Play the Young Guys

The Mets have multiple Rule 5 eligible players at the end of this season, including newly acquired Jefferson Rojas, Jack Wenninger, Ryan Clifford, Jacob Reimer, Chris Suero, Jose Chirinos, Matt Turner, as well as newly acquired Zach Franklin and Gary Gill Hill.

Could Rojas see a quick promotion to Syracuse and a look in September? Clifford’s struggles likely make it more of an argument that facing better pitching would hurt his development, but if he can turn it around before September, he could be a consideration. Similarly, if Jacob Reimer plays well now that he is back from his injury he could be a consideration in September. Chris Suero still has not made it to Triple-A, which is typically a sign of what the team thinks of a player, but he is an interesting profile as a defensively versatile three true outcomes player.

By roughly August 15, it becomes impossible for players to lose rookie status, so the Mets should see if Jack Wenninger has anything to offer. He is very likely going to be protected from the Rule 5 draft and added to the 40-man roster at the end of the season anyway. Maybe a role in the bullpen could be in store for him. Matt Turner is a name the Mets should give a shot to see if he can be a bullpen option for 2027. Zach Franklin may have been traded for specifically to slot right into the bullpen. The Mets likely have planned changes for Gary Gill Hill after trading for him, and we will see if those changes happen in Triple-A or in the majors. Jose Chirinos only recently made it to High-A and has not dominated there. He is maybe the least likely out of the names above to be protected in the rule five draft.

Jonathan Santucci made his first Triple-A start on August 1, and while he is not Rule 5 eligible, he could force his way into the conversation in the second half of August or September if he dominates in Syracuse.

Ronny Mauricio is already on the 40-man roster and is out of options after this season. The Mets will have to determine if they will even tender him a contract in the offseason and see if he has the potential to be a bench piece for the 2027 roster.

Nick Morabito has started pulling the ball more in Triple-A and could be the Mets’ fourth outfielder as early as 2027. He should get all of the at-bats that Tyrone Taylor would have normally taken and should get reps late in the game defensively at all three outfield positions. Christian Pache was recently called up, but ideally Morabito will take his place soon.

Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

See what Rotation Options the Mets have for 2027

Zac Thornton (Zac now, not Zach) probably should not be penciled into the Opening Day rotation — you would rather have him in 2027 as one of the first guys up when someone gets hurt — but the Mets should continue to develop him in the majors for the rest of the season. They have already made some interesting changes to his cutter and slider at the major league level, and maybe there is still some room for him to grow from the low-four ERA starter he projects to be into something more.

As previously mentioned, Wenninger and Santucci could get some consideration to take some starts in the majors before the end of the 2026 season. Wenninger because he is Rule 5 eligible and Santucci if he forces the Mets’ hand. As mentioned there could also be a benefit to trying Wenninger in the bullpen as a leverage arm. His inability to hold velocity into starts could force him there in the long run.

Jonah Tong has had an uneven Triple-A season at best. He also already has major league experience and could get innings in the majors working with the major league coaches could benefit him. Unfortunately, the gains from his Triple-A start on July 30 did not seem to hold. His velocity and iVB completely rebounded that start, and he got some of the best horizontal break on his breaking ball he has had all season, but the iVB was not there on his August 5 start, where he gave up multiple home runs. There could be benefit though from him working with the major league pitching coaches to see if they could unlock anything.

Tobias Myers should be stretched out and put on a regular schedule, ideally as a starter. He has had success as a starter before and would benefit the Mets if he could be a starting factor in 2027. Whatever role they determine he should be in next year, he should pitch in that role the second half of 2026. The Mets have Myers for five more years of control.

Jonathan Pintaro is another pitcher the Mets should consider stretching out as a starter. Unlike Myers, he still has an option for 2027, so he could be good depth. He is currently in the bullpen as a reliever post Devin Williams‘ injury and only pitched one inning in his first appearance so being stretched out seems unlikely.

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Figure Out the 2027 Bullpen

The Mets have many interesting arms in the minors and one in the majors they should utilize in the second half of 2026 to see if they can be in the 2027 bullpen.

The first is Kodai Senga. The Mets absolutely should continue to see if he can be a single-inning reliever on a regular reliever schedule. As a true reliever he can cut down the pitch mix and gas it out for 15-20 pitches. He recently hit 100 miles per hour in the majors for the first time in his career. This could be a spot he can thrive in and with the Devin Williams injury there should be plenty of high leverage innings to try him in.

Dedniel Núñez should be a factor in the second half of the season now that he has returned from injury. The Mets can let him work off the rust and let him get back to being a leverage reliever without pressure.

Dylan Ross and Jefry Yan throw gas and are already on the 40-man roster. Yan has already been called up but the Mets should give both a shot and see if they are at all capable of being major league pitchers. If not they will be put on waivers regardless since neither is likely to stay on the 40-man roster through the offseason if they are not expected to be in the majors in 2027 so why not see what they can do?

Dan Hammer briefly made it into the majors, did not pitch, and did manage to clear waivers. He should be a name the Mets look at to see if he can be a factor for 2027. Ben Simon is another intriguing arm that should be considered for second-half innings.

Nate Lavender has looked amazing in Triple-A and already looks like he should be a factor for the 2027 bullpen. He added velocity, and his slider looks incredible. He was just added to the major league roster and struck out four in his first appearance. In his most recent appearance, which came against the Braves, he pitched a scoreless inning and struck out two including Matt Olson.

Robert Stock is a fan favorite, but he has looked legitimately good in Triple-A this year as well as his first start in the majors. Not as much in his second appearance but it looks as if he will get another shot. Even at his age, maybe there is some argument he should get some run this year.

The Mets traded for Chayce McDermott and Zach Franklin, and both should get time in the bullpen to see if they can be factors in the 2027 bullpen.

Let Them Develop

As I mentioned previously, I am not advocating putting players in bad positions to try to toss games. But the Mets should not prioritize winning over ways they can benefit their players through development. That also does not mean they cannot win games. But setting up the organization for the future should be the first and foremost plan here. Having guys learn new positions, putting pitchers in new situations, seeing who they have in the organization that can be pieces for the future — that should be the priority here. And ideally getting a top six pick, maybe even the first overall pick in the 2027 draft.

The post The Mets Should Prioritize Development Over Winning appeared first on Metsmerized.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The biggest run-producing moment of the game came in the form of a grand slam off the bat of Brett Baty in the first inning. Eight of the nine starters collected a hit and three had themselves a multi-hit game. The only other Met who drove in multiple runs was first baseman Jared Young, who has really come on as of late as a stable lineup presence. He collected two hits, both singles, for his second multi-hit game in a row bumping his OPS on the year to .774, the highest it’s been since June 26. 

Before this year, Young had never received a real opportunity in the big leagues. The 31-year-old’s career high was just 47 plate appearances, a number he reached twice, in 2023 with the Cubs and 2025 with the Mets. Considering his production in the minors, his lack of opportunity is a bit head scratching. Missing a year due to COVID combined with his already advanced age for each level he arrived at clearly made scouts and executives pause. But much of the time baseball can be anything but linear. 

Following his first full season in Triple A in 2022 (.731 OPS), Young figured out minor league pitching. Over the next two seasons (165 games), Young’s OPS cleared .900 (.995 & .917) and he accumulated 117 R, 31 2B, 32 HR, 107 RBI. Young then took his talents to South Korea and dominated with a 1.080 OPS with 16 2B and 10 HRs in 38 games. Finally ending up with the Mets in 2025 Young picked up where left off and posted a .969 OPS with 18 home runs in 79 games for the Syracuse Mets. 

You can split Young’s 2026 thus far into three pretty distinct thirds. The first third was strong and saw him make the Opening Day roster for the first time in his career. Coming off the bench to spot playing time, Young was earning more and more at-bats against righties before going down on April 12 with a torn meniscus. Upon return he picked up where he left off and through June 11th (75 PAs) he was slashing .288/.360/.530/.890. 

Given that this was by far the most playing time Young had ever received in the big leagues, a period of adjustment was inevitable. Over Young’s next 23 games (73 PAs), his production plummeted as he slashed .167/.247/.258/.504.

One silver lining during his lull in production was that Young was still making quality contact with a 43% hard-hit rate. That across the whole season would rank in the 62nd percentile in baseball, just ahead of Julio Rodriguez. 

Since July 9 (80 PAs), Young has had easily the best stretch of his big league career so far, slashing .329/400/.514/.914. The advanced metrics during this stretch back up the production, with a 56% hard-hit rate and 91.1 mph average exit velocity. Both would rank in the 98th and 82nd percentiles, respectively, over a full season. The one caveat is that his hard contact hasn’t translated into much home-run power, likely because his average launch angle during the stretch is just six degrees.

Young is having a very strong first year in the bigs and has been a source of good production and quality at-bats. His slash line on the year is .262/.338/.436/.773 and is supported by a strong hard-hit rate (49.1), avg EV (90.3), and chase rate (26.5). He’s also been a stabilizing presence at first base defensively (-1 OAA), especially considering how much Vientos (-9 OAA) was struggling defensively, providing league-average defense.

With Young’s injury and limited playing time his counting stats don’t jump off the page. But when you pace his numbers over a 162 game season you suddenly see a player who may have played his way into a key role for 2027.

162 Game Pace: 78 R, 159 H, 30 2B, 6 3B, 21 HR, 75 RBI, 9 SB, 54 BB, 129 K

Thus far, he’s primarily played the strong side platoon playing the majority of his time against righties (only 32 PAs against LHP). But it wouldn’t be surprising to see manager Andy Green give him some more run against southpaws until the end of the year to really see what kind of player the Mets have. With the team’s intention to contend in 2027, the last 42 games of 2026 will be important in identifying key contributors for next year. 

Jared Young could be playing his way into the Mets’ primary first-base role next year.

The post Jared Young Is Playing Well. Could He Have a Role in 2027? appeared first on Metsmerized.

Coming off the Trade Deadline, the new-look Mets hit the road and are currently an impressive 5-1 before opening up a series in Atlanta on Monday.

After sweeping the Guardians, the Mets went into Pittsburgh and continued to be a lot of fun to watch on the way to taking two out of three from the Pirates.

While wins and losses hold little import right now, it is still encouraging to see things click for this team. Most notably, the offense seems to be putting things together. While the young players are leading the charge, the veterans are also producing at a high level.

On that note, let’s recap everything from the Pirates series in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Jun 3, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; New York Mets shortstop Bo Bichette (19) celebrates in the dugout after scoring a run against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

3 UP

BACK FROM THE BRINK

Sean Manaea is weaving quite the comeback story. Following some prolonged struggles, in which the veteran appeared to be a faded force, a new dawn could now be on the horizon. Manaea has done nothing but pay back the Mets’ faith in him after being inserted back into the starting rotation. That culminated in a truly stellar outing on Sunday. On the mound for the series finale, Manaea dazzled, twirling seven innings of one-run ball with three hits, no walks, and 11 strikeouts. Manaea has found a lot of success with his four-seam fastball, while his velocity keeps ticking up. Whether this is sustainable long-term given Manaea’s age remains to be seen. But, for right now, the lefty is the starter the Mets need and hoped he would be.

FINISHING STRONG

On the subject of renaissances, how about this offense?! Other than laying an egg on Saturday, the Mets have been red-hot offensively since the Trade Deadline. Over a six-game span, the lineup has now scored a whopping total of 42 runs. That averages out to seven runs a game, which is the best mark in the National League. More notably, the Mets are getting contributions from up and down the lineup. Marcus Semien stayed hot with four RBIs in Pittsburgh. Jared Young went 3-for-5 with a triple on Sunday. Headlining an 11-run outburst in the finale, Luis Robert Jr. drove in four RBIs. And Bo Bichette led the way with a perfect 5-for-5 day. Of course, the two rookie outfielders also produced in a big way, but more on them next.

FUN DRIVERS

The Mets are a lot of fun to watch right now. That has a lot to do with Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing. The dynamic duo was instrumental in the Pirates series win. Benge went 2-for-2 with two RBIs on Friday, while also making a stunning catch in the field. Granted, the rookie missed Saturday’s game after hurting his wrist during that play. However, he was back in the lineup on Sunday and went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a walk. As for Ewing, the outfielder reached base in all three games, headlined by a 3-for-4 performance in the opener. He also made a slew of big plays in the field. Overall, both Benge and Ewing underlined their growing importance to this franchise.

Rafael Suanes-USA TODAY Sports

3 DOWN

OFFENSIVE DUD

As good as the offense was in Pittsburgh, Saturday proved to be a day to forget. The lineup was a non-factor, mustering just three hits all game. Granted, it didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. Still, it just goes to show that this offense has its flaws. Plus, the no-show denied the Mets a chance to sweep a flailing Pirates team.

STOCK TRENDING DOWN

Saturday was just an all-around bad day for the Mets. Not only did the offense fail to show, but the starting pitching also struggled. Robert Stock was not good, getting shelled for eight earned runs on nine hits and five walks over three miserable innings. In other words, Stock didn’t give his team a chance from the start. With a chance to impress, the righty whiffed in a big way.

UNHAPPY RETURN

Dedniel Núñez‘s long-awaited return from Tommy John surgery hasn’t exactly been smooth. The reliever has struggled since being called back up to the big leagues, including over the weekend. Núñez gave up a pair of runs in Friday’s series opener, allowing the Pirates back into the game. As a result, Núñez has now given up four runs – two earned – in his two outings since coming off the IL. The Mets will hope it is just rust and not anything more sinister.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Fun Mets Power Past Pirates appeared first on Metsmerized.

Nolan McLean, taken in the third round, may be the most impactful player taken. The Mets drafted him as a two-way player with an eye for what he could do on the pitching side. Within a year, he stopped hitting, and a year later he went through a massive overhaul in Triple-A in the summer of 2025, leading to his quick call-up. He has pitched to a 3.20 ERA and 1.10 WHIP across 143.1 innings and looks like he could be a potential frontline starter for years to come.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The other player who can claim the most impact is A.J. Ewing, who was taken in the fourth round. Ewing was drafted as a shortstop but quickly moved to the outfield, where he has developed into a plus defensive center fielder with flex at second base. He dominated Double-A and Triple-A, forcing his way onto the 2026 major league roster in May, and has slashed .275/.360/.412/.772. The swing change he made in the minors this year has helped him get to his power better, and his HR/162 pace currently sits at 14 while his stolen base pace sits at 28. Even if he tops out as a 15 home run player, Ewing looks like he can man center field for the long haul while also providing flexibility in the infield.

The Mets liked Brandon Sproat so much they drafted him twice, this time in the second round. He struggled heavily in 2025 to maintain velocity or command the major league baseball, which led him to change up his pitch mix and try to be a contact-suppression-based pitcher. He has had mixed success at best but has looked better in his two most recent starts. Across 95.2 innings between the Mets and Brewers, Sproat has a 5.17 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. He was part of the trade that brought Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers to Queens.

Colin Houck, taken in the first round, has unfortunately looked like one of the worst picks the Mets have made in recent history. He has struggled heavily in High-A, slashing .105/.270/.315/.585 across 119 games, and it is hard to see him having a path to Double-A, let alone the majors. In a draft where he was drafted five picks before Kevin McGonigle, who the Mets were rumored to be linked to, this only looks worse in hindsight.

Zach Thornton, taken in the fifth round, has pitched twice in the majors and his most recent outing against the Phillies, he pitched six innings of one-run ball. He made some interesting pitch mix changes in that start that could elevate his ceiling a bit. Right now he still projects to be a backend starter, swing man, or up-and-down pitcher, but if he could ever get to some more velocity, a decent comparison might be David Peterson. But you are much happier drafting David Peterson in the fifth round than the first round.

Jack Wennigner has gotten top 100 list buzz the past few months, and while he has not made any of the major lists yet, he is very clearly on the bubble. He has struggled a bit in June but overall is having a good season. He has struggled to maintain velocity across outings, which may end up making his future as a back-end reliever, but that is a good outcome for a sixth-round pick.

Thirteenth round pick Ben Simon has looked great in both Double-A and Triple-A this year flashing multiple plus pitches and pitching to a 2.35 ERA and 1.14 WHIP. He is making a real case to force his way onto the major league roster at some point this year.

Third-rounder Kade Morris was traded to the Athletics for Paul Blackburn, who started strong for the Mets, got hurt, and then struggled heavily, leading the Mets to eventually cut him. Morris has had mixed results in Triple-A and the minors in general, pitching to a 4.41 ERA and 1.38 WHIP this year.

You can see the full draft here:

• Round 1 – Colin Houck – SS
• Round 2 – Brandon Sproat – P
• Round 3 – Nolan McLean – TWP
• Round 3 – Kade Morris – P
• Round 4 – Wyatt Hudepohl – P
• Round 4 – A.J. Ewing – SS
• Round 4 – Austin Troesser – P
• Round 5 – Zach Thornton – P
• Round 6 – Jack Wenninger – P
• Round 7 – Noah Hall – P
• Round 8 – Boston Baro – SS
• Round 9 – Nick Lorusso – 3B
• Round 10 – Christian Pregent – C
• Round 11 – Brett Banks – P
• Round 12 – Brady Kirtner – P
• Round 13 – Ben Simon – P
• Round 14 – John Valle – P
• Round 15 – Justin Lawson – P
• Round 16 – Jake Zitella – 3B
• Round 17 – Bryce Jenkins – P
• Round 18 – Gavyn Jones – P
• Round 19 – Christian Little – P
• Round 20 – Kellum Clark – OF

The post Reviewing the Mets 2023 Draft appeared first on Metsmerized.

The Mets, now 4-0 since the trade deadline, have been playing loose since selling some of their major pieces.

Photo Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images

They came out running on Friday. They took advantage of a rattled starter in Carmen Mlodzinski, who struggled mightily after a 36-minute rain delay going into the third inning. The Mets stole four bases in the first six innings — and they would have had two more on a double-steal had Bo Bichette not swung at a first-pitch cutter in the third inning. Despite that little blunder, Francisco Lindor‘s third steal of the season set up an opportunity for Carson Benge‘s second RBI single of the game.

A.J. Ewing did the same thing with two outs in the fourth. He stole second, and Lindor drove him in with an RBI hit.

Ewing and Benge have been doing the bulk of the stealing for the Mets. Benge has 18, and Ewing has 15 — that’s good for 33 of the team’s 63 stolen bags on the season.

Lindor’s hit in the fourth inning made it 6-0 Mets.

With a good but abbreviated start from Zac Thornton, it was New York’s defense that proved key in holding on for a 6-4 win.

“We’ve got a ton of great energy in this clubhouse,” Thornton said. “Guys that are hungry for it. Guys that are hungry to win. I think we’re playing for each other, so it’s awesome to see.”

The first key play was Benge’s catch in the third inning. The only negative was that Benge hurt his wrist and had to be taken out, having had a fantastic game thus far on both sides of the ball. But Benge, playing left field because of Pittsburgh’s park dimensions instead of his usual right field, took a likely leadoff double away from Ronny Simón.

Ewing added a nice catch, too, on a 102.4-mph liner to end the fifth inning. It helped Thornton strand two runners.

“They’re amazing. They’re incredible defenders,” Mets interim manager Andy Green said of Benge and Ewing. “They’re not afraid of anything. … [Ewing’s catch] was not easy. It was a phenomenal jump. Great range. A catch we needed there.”

Thornton — another young piece for the Mets getting a chance to shine in this lost season — navigated the rain delay, which cost him nearly an hour between pitches, to pitch five scoreless innings. If not for the delay, he almost certainly would have been kept in to throw more than 63 pitches.

“The way he was pitching is the type of outing you see seven or eight innings from. We would have loved to have been able to do that,” Mets interim manager Andy Green said. “But with the rain, it just wasn’t right for him.”

The Mets’ bullpen limped to the finish line a little bit.

That’s what made the defense so key.

One of the critical plays came from a pitcher helping his own cause: Jefry Yan, in just his second major-league outing. Yan was called in to clean up Dedniel Núñez‘s mess in the seventh inning. He allowed two inherited runners to score, but was able to avoid further damage by covering the plate as Jared Triolo attempted to score from third base on a wild pitch.

Luis Torrens, who leads MLB catchers in defensive runs saved, retrieved the ball quickly and threw a dart to Yan, who was perfectly positioned in front of the plate to get the tag down. Naturally, Yan brought some of his signature flair to the celebration.

“I wasn’t surprised by some of the emotion that came after,” Green said.

With the Mets’ lead cut to 6-2 and runners on the corners, the combined effort of Torrens and Yan prevented the inning from spiraling. It also kept Yan’s ERA at an even 0.00.

Devin Williams finished it out, but that didn’t go smoothly, either. He gave up a long run-scoring single to Jacob Gonzalez — then was gifted an out as Brett Baty came up with an assist from right field. He gunned down Gonzalez trying to stretch his hit into a double.

And that out proved extra massive as Brandon Lowe ended up hitting a two-out single to make the lead even tighter at 6-4. Without Baty’s assist, it could have been an entirely different ballgame.

Marcus Semien put a bow on the strong overall defensive game with a nice play at second base, for good measure.

“[Benge] sacrificed his body, and that’s all you can ask for in your outfielders,” Semien said. “And then great play by Baty, a guy who’s been playing all over the field. So to play that wall, which is a tough wall in right and make a great throw, was exactly what we needed.”

Though the bullpen wasn’t at its sharpest, the Mets showed some flair on Friday in getting their fourth consecutive win. Stealing bases and going above and beyond defensively were two major keys in separating themselves and holding off the Pittsburgh comeback attempt.

The post Stolen Bases, Defensive Plays Help Mets Keep Pirates At Bay appeared first on Metsmerized.

In somewhat of a surprising development, the new-look Mets went into Cleveland and swept the playoff-chasing Guardians. Not only that, but the post-Trade Deadline version of this team was incredibly fun to watch.

Granted, this is still a lost season given the wins and losses don’t really matter at this point. With that said, there now appear to be multiple reasons to stay invested in this team the rest of the way.

On that note, let’s dive into the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Photo Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images

3 UP

NEW-LOOK BULLPEN

Hands up if you were expecting the bullpen to be a mess in the wake of the Trade Deadline? Me too. Well, it is a very small sample size, but maybe we will be proved wrong. The new-look bullpen was electric in Cleveland, combining to allow just one earned run all series. That’s impressive, especially considering the low expectations going in. Those efforts were led by Nate Lavender, who didn’t allow a run across his first two career MLB outings, striking out three. Jefry Yan also made his MLB debut, wowing with both his electric stuff and his trademark post-strikeout celebrations. Kodai Senga impressed too in a closer role on Tuesday. All in all, while we need to see a lot more, this revamped bullpen could carry a lot of promise for next year and beyond.

OFFENSE FIRING

The Mets got big-time contributions from up and down the lineup throughout the series in Cleveland. Bo Bichette had a big series, finishing with five hits and three RBIs. That included driving in the winning run in extra innings during Wednesday’s game. Francisco Lindor came up with a clutch three-run bomb to stretch a one-run lead into a big 9-5 lead in the seventh inning of the series finale. Both Jorge Polanco and Brett Baty hit home runs. Marcus Semien hit a double and a homer in the final game. Luis Torrens enjoyed a monster series, including going a perfect 3-for-3 with four RBIs in the opener. And A.J. Ewing and Carson Benge were also both highly productive. It has been rare that we’ve seen everything click for this offense as it did in Cleveland.

NOTHING TO LOSE

With the season over, and the Trade Deadline in the rearview mirror, it was obvious to see that the shackles had been removed from the Mets. Just like that, they were playing loosey-goosey and without any pressure. As a result, we saw three well-rounded wins from this team. The offense flowed. The new-look bullpen took full advantage of the opportunity. And the entire team just played with so much joy. We haven’t seen that a whole lot in 2026. The rookies, namely Benge and Ewing, continued to impact the game in a multitude of ways. The season may be over in terms of achieving anything, but this current incarnation of the Mets could be a lot of fun to watch if they keep playing as they did against the Guardians.

 John Jones-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

SHAKY START

Nolan McLean‘s latest start was not his strongest. The potential future ace of this staff struggled in the series finale, allowing five earned runs on eight hits with three walks over five innings. McLean did strike out eight, and the Mets did secure the sweep, but the outing was a step back for the rookie. The eight hits allowed tied a career-high, although McLean did record his 213th career strikeout. That’s the fifth most in franchise history in a pitcher’s first 31 starts. Overall, McLean will look to rebound once again.

SIZZLING OUT

McLean wasn’t the only Mets starter to struggle in this series. Christian Scott started out strong on Wednesday, but faded fast and hard. Scott ended up blowing a 3-0 lead, allowing three earned runs on six hits with two walks and seven strikeouts over five innings. Thankfully, the offense and the bullpen bailed Scott out. However, given that we’re now in the dog days of summer, Scott should be going deeper into games, and that remains a concern.

INCONSISTENCIES 

The general consensus seemed to be in favor of the Mets holding onto Francisco Alvarez at the deadline. The talent has always been there, after all. However, as has always been the case with the catcher, inconsistency continues to be the main problem. We saw that in Cleveland. Alvarez recorded just two hits in the series, while striking out a total of six times. Consequently, he’s now hitting just .167/.318/.278/.596 with eight strikeouts and just two extra-base hits over his last five games. As the Mets try to figure out their core for the 2027 season, Alvarez must find a way to be less streaky if he wants to be a big-time contributor.

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In sending a total of eight players out the door, the Mets largely achieved what they set out to do by committing to a sell-off. They welcomed 13 new players to the organization, including the team’s new No. 1 prospect.

And by stocking up on prospect capital, the Mets now have extra pieces to play with when it comes to improving the big league roster in the offseason.

Let’s recap the Mets’ Trade Deadline in a special edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Sammy Stafura. Photo by Greensboro Grasshoppers

3 UP

GETTING A GEM

There was a ton of discussion prior to the Trade Deadline over whether or not the Mets would be able to land a Top 100 prospect. Well, they were able to get one in the form of Cubs infielder prospect Jefferson Rojas. The 21-year-old instantly becomes the best prospect in the Mets farm system, and he isn’t all that far away from being ready. Rojas can play second, third, and shortstop. He also projects to be an impact bat and a threat on the basepaths. There is still room to grow with Rojas, too, and it will be intriguing to see what kind of player he can become for the Mets.

HIGH UPSIDE

Trying to assess trades for prospects isn’t an exact science. Not every prospect will work out, and it will be a while before we know how well the Mets really did. For instance, many felt the return for Luke Weaver was light given that Weaver wasn’t a rental. However, if Sammy Stafura, the Pirates’ No. 9 prospect acquired by the Mets, lives up to his potential, then maybe we’ll look differently at this deal. Stafura, who grew up rooting for the Mets, has stellar defensive skills as well as a lot of pop offensively. For instance, he hit 14 homers over the last month alone. It seems that the ceiling is incredibly high for Stafura, who can impact the game in a multitude of ways. This could end up being one of the best pickups of the deadline for the Mets.

LOADED UP

The Mets added a lot of upside at the deadline without addressing any of the flaws currently impacting the big league roster. However, by stocking up on prospect capital, the Mets do have more chips to play with when it comes to the offseason. With free agency weak when it comes to position players, the Mets will need to lean heavily on the trade market in order to improve the roster. Therefore, a lot of the players acquired at the Trade Deadline could be flipped for players that will hopefully help this team rebound in 2027. If that proves to be the case, then the deadline could end up proving to have been a franchise game-changer.

Luis Robert Jr. by Berto Carlo

3 DOWN

WORK TO BE DONE

In light of what was said above, the Mets do have a lot of work to do. That’s especially the case if they keep hold of the majority of the prospects they added. Rojas is probably the only one of the new additions remotely ready to join The Show. Consequently, there are a lot of holes on the Major League roster to be filled for the 2027 season. It is unlikely many of those gaps will be filled by the players the Mets just acquired. The long-term future does now look a bit brighter. However, the next year or so appears to be incredibly murky.

TOUGH SLEDDING

There is no doubt that the Mets had to be sellers at the Trade Deadline. However, with many key contributors now gone, including most of the bullpen, the rest of the year could be tough viewing. Again, the Mets didn’t acquire any players who can really help them now. Therefore, the rest of this season is essentially a prolonged tryout for players to impress for 2027. It also means that we may have to endure a lot more losing down the stretch.

TAKING AWAY PLAYING TIME

The one deal the Mets didn’t make was trading away Luis Robert Jr. The outfielder will remain with the team for now. However, that could prove to be a problem. By Robert Jr. still being on the roster, that could take away precious playing time from both Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing. The two rookies developing further must be this team’s biggest priority from here on out. Plus, Robert Jr.’s presence means Ewing has to play out in left, despite being more valuable in center field. It would have been a lot easier if the Mets were able to have moved Robert Jr.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Trade Deadline Recap appeared first on Metsmerized.

Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Johnluke Chaparro

I had to actually sit and process this a little bit, mainly due to hoping that they could have gotten more for certain players. Maybe I might be a bit delusional than my counterparts here, but the more I looked at what was done, the more I lean towards liking the returns a bit more than I initially did when the trade happened. Rojas, Mathis, Pitre and Stafura intrigue me and as someone mentioned here, they also obtained a few high upside arms that they can hope to develop into talent they can either utilize on the roster or in trade for other major league talent.

I wasn’t expecting any groundbreaking or earth shattering but I was hoping that in the very least, they’d get someone who could play on the major league roster right now. Every trade I was okay with, except the Weaver trade. I honestly felt that Weaver could have been an asset here next season, especially if the team intends to contend in 2027.

That said, I can’t say the Mets didn’t address some needs and replenish the farm system, which seems to be the key focus the organization is looking to stay with, so I’m not too upset at how the trade deadline transpired. I just hope that these trades or players can contribute in a meaningful way at some point, whether they wear the orange and blue, or are used as chips for someone else to wear the orange and blue.

Grade: B-

David Melendi

I am glad Stearns moved everyone he could, but he has lost the benefit of the doubt from me. Steve Somers, my favorite WFAN radio host called potential a “French word for maybe.” How many of the 13 minor leaguers acquired will be productive in the majors? We will see.

Grade: C

Sammy Stafura. Photo by Greensboro Grasshoppers

Michael Mayer

I would give the Mets trade deadline a B. I was leaning closer towards a C before talking to more people about Sammy Stafura. That’s the deal I least liked with the initial reaction because the return felt light given Luke Weaver isn’t a rental. That said, people I talked to who know way more about prospects throughout the league thought it was a fair yet risky return for Weaver. There’s plenty of upside for a player like Stafura: solid defensive middle infielder with pop. I do think, in general seeing the comments on MMO and in the replies on Twitter, that most fans had unrealistic expectations for the returns of rental middle relievers. Sure, both Minter and Raley were good for the Mets, but they’ve both had injury concerns over the last couple of years, underlying metrics aren’t as good as ERA and Raley is 38 years old.

The obvious big haul was getting Jefferson Rojas, and for me, he instantly becomes the best prospect in the Mets system. And he’s not that far off, he’s played pretty well (114 wRC+) in Double-A games and could see some Triple-A action before the season ends. I believe the Mets got a good mixture of prospects back: one top 100 player (Rojas), one borderline top 100 (Stafura), a helium prospect (Pitre). arms with interesting pitch traits (Gabe Davis, Gary Gill Hill, Luke Gabrysh), big time power (Billy Amick), buy low on injured players (Cole Mathis, Bruin Agbayani), a former topish organization prospect (Aidan Smith) and close to majors reliever (Zach Franklin).

Rojas is certainly the best prospect the Mets got, but the deal with the best grade for me is the Huascar Brazoban for Davis and Franklin deal. That one is an easy A+, one of those guys straight up for Brazoban would’ve been a good deal for the Mets. I believe Franklin is up this year and could have similar value to Brazoban as early as next year. And Davis has a starter repertoire with the downside of being a strong reliever profile with his fastball/slider. I think the Peralta deal is fine because of how he performed this year and the group of prospects they got is definitely better than what you likely read on MLB Pipeline (let’s talk about this more later).

Mathias Altman-Kurosaki

It’s really hard to grade a deadline like this, since the Mets only really acquired prospects. I was a little disappointed they didn’t get more for Luke Weaver. Sammy Stafura has made great improvements this year, but feels like not enough for the best reliever on the market. However, I was impressed with getting Jefferson Rojas for Clay Holmes and Tyrone Taylor. They received a number interesting prospects in each deal, which is about as much as you could ask for when trading mostly rentals. I think they did better than expected in the Freddy Peralta, A.J. Minter and Huascar Brazobán deals, and got about what you’d expect for a 38-year-old rental in Brooks Raley.

Overall, I give the Mets a B for this deadline.

Zach Franklin, Photo Credit: Jim Margalus of Sox Machine

Jack Ramsey

I’ll give the Mets a B for this deadline. Much like Mike said, the prizes of Rojas and Stafura are incredibly intriguing, Pitre is a fast riser, and several other new names are going to be interesting to follow. I’d argue the team added 10 new prospects to their top 30, which helps a ton given that their recent drafts have been lackluster and light on high-end talent.

I think fans sort of developed unrealistic expectations for deadline returns: rental relievers (especially non-elite and older arms) never net a huge return, every player’s market is different, and fan/media perspective of a player’s value is different from what the league’s perspective is. Fans might have thought Weaver would net more, but his value was clearly less than what fans thought it would be. Overall, the Mets could have two top-100 prospects from this group alone, and multiple players who can impact the 2027 roster. David Stearns did good work to maximize what was movable from this disappointing roster

Andrew Steele-Davis

I will go with a Grade C because I think a lot of this prospect capital will be used to strengthen the big league roster in the offseason, so it is hard to judge right now. However, with that said, I thought getting Jefferson Rojas back in the Clay Holmes and Tyrone Taylor trade was a really smart move. He has a tremendous amount of upside and it was important the Mets got a Top 100 prospect at the deadline. I still think they could have got more in the Luke Weaver deal, and the other big disappointment was not moving Luis Robert Jr. The rest of this season needs to be about developing the rookies further, and I’m worried some of their playing time will now be taken away by Robert Jr.. Overall, this is a tough trade deadline to grade because, again, I think the moves made are just the precursor to bigger things to come in the offseason

Robert Colonna

As the day went on and I was able to get more information on the players back my view of the Mets trade returns improved. The Weaver trade in particular I became more bullish on after learning about Stafura’s recent swing change and exit velocities.

Overall I would give it a B+. Based on the criteria I set before I cannot give it an A because the Mets did not get back an established major league starter or hitter. Not many were moved so maybe that is unfair, but this is something that could have benefited the Mets before a weak free agency class in the offseason.

What they did get was significant upside, filling organizational gaps that needed to be filled. They got back three clear potential top 100 prospects in Rojas, Pitre and Stafura as well as Mathis who could make that case if he can stay healthy.

They also grabbed a number of high upside arms with skill sets the Mets are good at optimizing as well as some arms that could be in the majors now. They also grabbed some upside hitters that are in need of a swing change and could increase their potential if they can make that change.

This deadline was about as successful as could be when a team is only selling. They grabbed guys with upside, guys close to the majors, guys that filled organization need, and guys with value that can be flipped for major league pieces.

Overall I give it a solid B+.

Matthew Tutrone

Well they certainly reached my threshold of 5 separate trades. No clue whether any of these prospects will pan out, so I’ll give it a B for effort.

The post MMO Roundtable: Here’s What We Grade The Mets Trade Deadline appeared first on Metsmerized.

Then, the trade deadline came, and the Mets officially waved the white flag. Still, there are mainstays who put together solid performances last week.

Francisco Lindor by Berto Carlo

Offensive Player of the Week: Francisco Lindor

Lindor was on fire last week. Lindor slashed .346/.433/.808 with an OPS of 1.241. Lindor’s most impressive outing was during Monday’s July 27 game against the Atlanta Braves. Lindor crushed two home runs and drove in six. While the six RBIs in one game is impressive, Carlos Delgado and Brandon Nimmo hold the Mets regular season single game record with nine each.

Christian Scott by Berto Carlo

Pitcher of the Week: Christian Scott

Christian Scott had another strong performance last week. He tried to secure the series sweep against the Braves in game two of the doubleheader on Wednesday. He went six strong innings, striking out seven, while allowing only one earned run. The only problem was that he suffered the loss despite that strong start as he was bested by Braves ace Chris Sale. The one run was all Atlanta needed, securing the win 1-0. With this performance, Scott lowered his season ERA to 2.99. Scott has been consistent throughout his MLB career, by only allowing four runs or fewer in his first 24 starts. According to Michael Mayer, he is just one of six pitchers in MLB history to do this.

Up Next

The Mets crossed the trade deadline having dealt a total of eight players over the last month-plus. They’ll have a whole new roster when they then begin an away trip starting in Cleveland on Tuesday. The Guardians are currently 57-56, sitting second in the A.L. Central. Following the Guardians, the Mets travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Pirates. The Pirates have a 56-57 record, sitting third in the N.L. Central. They’ll see old friend Luke Weaver.

The post Players of the Week: Scott, Lindor Put Together Solid Performances appeared first on Metsmerized.

The Mets clearly chased upside as well as player types they have a track record of optimizing. They filled much-needed holes in their farm system and grabbed both players who can help in the near term and in the future.

Sammy Stafura. Photo by Greensboro Grasshoppers

Future or Current Potential Top 100 Prospects

3B/SS Jefferson Rojas

Jefferson Rojas made the back half of some top 100 lists in the offseason and may even stay on some when the new lists come out in a few weeks. He gives you solid defense at third base and second base and could fill in at shortstop as needed. He is average to above average at pretty much everything and could be in the majors as soon as next year. He has an argument to be listed as the Mets’ best prospect going forward and solidifies a weak portion of the Mets farm system.

2B Émilien Pitre

Émilien Pitre is the other player that has an argument to be the Mets’ best prospect and does not profile too dissimilar to Rojas. He has a better hit tool, but Rojas has a bit more power potential. The comps I have heard for Pitre are Pedro Ramirez and Jeff McNeil. His stock has skyrocketed this year, and he is another prospect that could be in the majors as soon as next year if he continues what he is doing.

SS Sammy Stafura

It is hard to find a more boom-or-bust player traded this deadline than Sammy Stafura. He has plus power with a 107.5 miles per hour 90% exit velocity alongside his plus defense at shortstop. He underwent a swing change roughly six weeks before he was traded, and time will tell if that is sticky or not. If so, he should skyrocket up Top 100 lists and be an everyday shortstop for the Mets in the not too distant future. If the swing change does not hold, he is likely not a major leaguer.

1B/3B Cole Mathis

The only thing holding Cole Mathis (David Peterson trade) back is injury. He has had elbow issues since he underwent Tommy John surgery, which may prevent him from being able to play third base. He projects to have the bat to play first base with a solid hit tool and a solid power tool. He recently returned from his latest injured list stint, so the Mets will get a better look at him going forward.

Gabe Davis. Photo Credit: MLB Pipeline

Upside Future Starters

RHP Gabe Davis

A shoulder injury led to Gabe Davis getting drafted in the eighth round instead of the first or second like he was initially expected. He has struggled since he was drafted, but he throws in the high 90s. It is important to remember you should never evaluate prospects just on ERA—they have minor league defenses behind them, and they are playing in minor league ballparks. Davis has a starter’s repertoire centered around a plus fastball and a plus slider and has continually improved the further he has been away from his surgery.

RHP Gary Gill Hill

Gary Gill Hill is the type of pitcher the Mets have had success developing. He throws from a low slot with a good feel for spin. He has good east/west movement and shares some traits with Brandon Sproat. He throws multiple good breaking balls and should be a good fit to be optimized by the Mets.

RHP Luke Gabrysh

When you acquire players to optimize, it is always good to grab some pitchers from organizations that are not good at developing that archetype. Luke Gabrysh (Brooks Raley trade) is another low slot pitcher with a good feel for spin. He throws three different fastball shapes, all with good velocity and excels at generating swing and miss.

Welcome to the Bullpen

RHP Zach Franklin

There is a good chance Zach Franklin will be in the bullpen any day. He throws a good fastball and a good slider from a three-quarter slot and is great at generating swing and miss while limiting walks. It would not surprise me if he pitches similarly to Huascar Brázoban in 2027.

RHP Chayce McDermott

The Mets are now the fourth organization to take a shot on Chayce McDermott (Ben Rortvedt trade) because his stuff is amazing; he just has no idea where it is going. His breaking balls are electric, and he throws his fastballs with good velocity. He could end up just throwing a few innings and then getting cut (he’s already up with the MLB team), but you want to take flyers on interesting potential future relievers after selling at the deadline. If the Mets can be the team to finally help him figure out any level of command, that is exactly what you will get.

John Spikerman. Photo Credit: Nathan Ray/Clearwater Threshers

Swing Change Incoming

OF Aidan Smith

Aidan Smith has struggled heavily in his pro career. He looks better under the hood, but it by no means is amazing. He is one of the clearest “needs a swing change” candidates the Mets got, and ideally they have a plan to help him get to the power he was projected with when he was drafted in the fourth round and traded for Randy Arozarena. At the least, he is a plus defensive outfielder and a good runner.

OF John Spikerman

John Spikerman is a Gold Glove level defender in the outfield and an incredible runner. He may never hit and could have a role on a major league roster as a super utility player with plus defense that can also make an impact as a pinch runner. He does have average-ish contact rates and gets walks but his power is well below average. At his best, he may end up just being a better version of Nick Morabito.

INF Bruin Agbayani

Bruin Agbayani (yes, Benny’s son) has a plus hit tool but has yet to really develop any power. If he could adjust his swing to tap into some more power, or potentially just fill out a bit more, he could develop into a potential major league infielder.

OF Billy Amick

Billy Amick is the opposite of Bruin because he gets to incredible power but struggles heavily to make consistent contact, running absolutely abysmal zone-contact rates—some of the worst in all of the minors. We have seen with Ryan Clifford that even if you hit the ball incredibly hard, it is difficult to be successful above Double-A with contact rates that poor. So, Amick will likely need to adjust his swing to make more consistent contact if he ever wants to make the majors.

Place for More Information on the Prospects Traded

• For All You Kids Out There is a free Mets-adjacent Baseball Prospectus podcast hosted by Jeffrey and Jarrett, and they broke down all of the Mets trades as well as the players traded.
• The Baseball Prospectus site has great breakdowns of the players in each farm system as well as their top 101 prospects.
• Baseball America has top 30 prospect lists for every team and should update in the coming days to include al of the prospect traded as well as in-depth analysis.
• Prospect Savant is a free website where you can view available metrics and percentile for minor league prospects.

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