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.

MORE METS

The back-to-school shopping season is upon us, and teachers everywhere are digging into their own pockets to stock up on classroom essentials. According to the National Education Association, educators shell out an average of $500 to $750 annually on supplies their students need.

Many teachers say their districts don’t always provide everything needed to keep students engaged, comfortable, and ready to learn. A survey by the U.S. Department of Education reveals that 94 percent of teachers are spending their own money on classroom necessities. It’s not just teachers either. Support staff like bus drivers, front office personnel, classroom aides, and custodians are also using their own wages to buy supplies.

These purchases cover everything from paper, pencils, markers, and glue, to online learning program subscriptions, lab equipment, snacks for hungry kids, tissues, cleaning supplies, and even hand soap for the bathrooms.

Last year, CNN reported that most school supplies have jumped in price, sending the cost of writing tools and supplies such as crayons, pens, and pencils up nearly 19% year-over-year.

Jamesha Gilliam, a public high school English teacher in Marion County, Florida, keeps a locker in her class filled with pens, pencils, notebooks, glue sticks, and other stationery materials.

“I use my own money to keep it filled up during the year,” said Gilliam. But she was hit with sticker shock when she went to buy a bulk supply of unsharpened pencils. “I would get a 50-pack box for $10, and this year it’s closer to $25,” she shared with the outlet.

Parents have been noticing this as well with some sharing how the cost of back-to-school supplies has gotten out of hand.

TikTok user @cramer.crew, known as Christy, recently shared her annual back-to-school haul for two kids. Her list included the usual suspects like dry-erase markers, folders, notebooks, glue sticks, tissues, and paper towels. Most items were store brands, particularly Target's, which another local mom found to be the cheapest. Christy skipped big-ticket items like electronics and didn’t include backpacks or lunchboxes, which she bought separately. Despite reusing some items like her older child’s backpack and calculator, her total still came to $170.23.

“Absolutely insane. Insane!” she exclaimed.

Another parent, @addi_archers_mommy, known as Harlee, shared her frustration: “I just spent about $100 on my first grader’s school supplies,” she said. “And they wouldn’t even let me buy anything fun.”

She showed her haul, noting the specific name brands required. Although Harlee didn’t always stick to those brands, a teacher friend explained that these requests often come from experience, as investing in quality can save money long-term.

No one seems to blame teachers for the costs. In fact, Christy, in the comments of her video, expressed appreciation for teachers, telling one commenter, “Crazy how teachers are expected to provide it all.”

As the back-to-school season kicks off, some retailers are stepping up to ease the financial burden on teachers by offering discounts and special deals on classroom supplies. They’re rolling out special deals and discounts to help educators fill their classrooms without emptying their wallets. Ready to see which stores are making it easier for teachers to snag those must-have supplies? Take a look at the list below and find out who’s offering a helping hand this school year.

New members can get a $20 or $40 Costco Shop Card, an exclusive offer for teachers. Teachers also receive a 10% discount at most Dollar Tree locations by showing a valid school ID. At Michael’s, teachers save 15% on every purchase. Office Depot offers a 10% discount on in-store purchases for teachers. Staples provides a 20% discount on in-store purchases with an app coupon and teacher ID. Additionally, teachers can enjoy 20% off storewide at Target through Target Circle, available until Saturday, August 24.

Both teachers and students can access Adobe Pro, which includes Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and InDesign, for just $19.99 per month during the first year, and $34.99 per month thereafter. Additionally, teachers and their families can enjoy a 25% discount on AT&T wireless plans, starting at $27 per month for four lines. Instructors can save up to $25 per month on Verizon's Unlimited wireless plans. Canva offers free access to creating lesson plans, posters, and infographics through this link. Teachers get six months of Babbel lessons for $36, a 60 percent discount. Teachers also receive discounts on Google Workspace for Education, which includes Gmail, Drive, Docs, Meet, and more, as well as discounts on Chromebooks. Office 365 Education and Microsoft Teams are available for free, along with a 10% discount on Windows devices. The Apple Store for Education offers discounted items for K-12 teachers, including select Macbooks and iPad.

Books will always be essential for both students and teachers, and there are discounts available for educators looking to expand their collections. Teachers can enjoy up to 25% off on books, toys, and games by joining Barnes & Noble Educators. The Scholastic Teacher Store offers great items for 25% off and up to 50% off with other sales and deals. Scholastic also hosts book fairs and warehouse sales where teachers can purchase items at marked-down prices. Additionally, local bookstores often offer similar discounts for teachers, so it's worth checking out nearby options to find the best deals.