Mets Go All In on Pitching at Trade Deadline
The Major League Baseball Trade Deadline has come and gone, and the question facing the New York Mets is simple: Did they do enough?
With eight weeks to go in the regular season, the Mets are in a logjam at the top of the wild card standings, with only a half-game separating four teams. At 57-50 the Mets are in a good position, and hold the second wild card at the moment. But the Arizona Diamondbacks, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, and even the Pittsburgh Pirates are not going away.
PITCHING, PITCHING, PITCHING
If the Mets had one need at the deadline it was pitching. New York didn’t come away with any blockbusters. Jack Flaherty, Trevor Rodgers, and Tanners Scott all went elsewhere, while Garrett Crochet and Pete Fairbanks never left their respective organizations.
To be fair there wasn’t a big splash out there to be made.
The Mets pivoted and tried to fill holes where they could. In today’s game, where we see teams sprint to the bullpen sometimes as soon as the third or fourth inning in playoff games, one can’t have enough arms.
Paul Blackburn
The Mets had to settle for a middle-of-the-rotation starter in Blackburn from the Oakland A’s because teams were unwilling to part with top-end starters unless the return was immense. The Mets have been steadfast since David Stearns took over the front office that the Mets would compete for 2024, but would be mindful about the future in 2025 and beyond.
Blackburn doesn’t jump off the page. He’s 4-2 with a 4.41 ERA in 51 innings and does not have overpowering stuff. What is though is an innings eater. Five of his nine starts this year have gone six innings or more. For a team that has struggled with length out of the rotation, perhaps Blackburn will be a welcome addition.
Huascar Brazoban
A rare in-division deal between the Mets and Marlins brings the hard-throwing righty to Queens. At 34 years old, SNY called Brazoban a “late bloomer.” He’s pitching to a 2.93 ERA and can touch 96 mph on the radar gun. He is under the Mets’ control for four more seasons, so this could be a huge addition with long term ramifications.
Tyler Zuber
Journeyman reliever who was optioned almost immediately to Triple-A Syracuse. He’s only pitched in two innings this season.
Jesse Winker
Perhaps the most fascinating move the Mets made was getting Winker. The left fielder built a reputation as a Met-killer, batting .283 with three homers, 18 RBI, and 19 runs scored against the Amazins. Yet, he always had a frenemy relationship with Mets fans. While with Seattle in 2022, Winker spoke openly about how much he respects the Mets organization and fan base. Well, now he’s finally here.
Winker is hitting .333 (two hits in six-at bats) with a run scored since joining the Mets via a trade with the Washington Nationals. He can be both a fourth outfielder and a Designated Hitter. He’s a solid addition, especially if he hits Mets opponents as well as he used to hit the Amazins.
Ryne Stanek
Since joining the Mets via a trade with Seattle, Stanek has struggled, serving up a pair of homers and three earned runs. Before joining the Mets, Stanek had a 4.38 ERA in Seattle. While with Houston he had his best year in 2022 where he pitched to a 1.15 ERA and recorded 17 holds.
Phil Maton
Acquired a couple of weeks ago via trade with Tampa Bay. Maton has pitched fairly well since joining the Mets. Manager Carlos Mendoza is not afraid to go to him often out of the Mets pen. And with good reason. Maton has pitched to a 1.50 ERA in seven games, six innings, with seven strikeouts. Like Stanek, he’s another former Houston Astros reliever, as the Mets tried to bring in bullpen help from the 2022 World Series champions.
