NY Mets: 2 major potential trade deadline needs we could see addressed

The trade deadline is still weeks away and the New York Mets are sitting in a spot where we all expect them to be buyers. They are right in the thick of the postseason race in a division with multiple underperformers.

When the trade deadline rolls around each year, those teams hoping to play deep into October have an opportunity to add to the roster and make a stronger push. We all expect the Mets to be heavily involved in any trade deadline action this year, but maybe not at the positions we once viewed as their greatest needs.

At the end of July, the Mets may actually be involved in some trade rumors we didn’t originally expect them to be. Dependent a lot on health—and a little on performance—the Mets could get into some unexpected sweepstakes.

Mets injuries could force the team to add a bat even if it causes a logjam at some point

The Mets haven’t had a major league lineup for quite some time. Injuries to J.D. Davis, Brandon Nimmo, Michael Conforto, and Jeff McNeil along with a few other shorter ones have caused the team to call in the cavalry. Unfortunately, many of them are riding on Triple-A horses and not the major league ones the club needs for the most successful results.

While all four of those names are expected to be back in uniform and on the diamond within a few weeks, there’s always a chance at a setback. If this happens, even if it does create a problem for some players with how many innings they get, the Mets need to make a move.

An ideal candidate for a job like this would be a utility player the team can move around. I don’t like trading for a one-position player only for him to sit on the bench when the regular returns. It’s kind of a waste.

But let’s say one of these players’ bodies decides it won’t behave in 2021 or at least sidelines him through August either from a current injury or a new one that pops up. The Mets can’t ignore those weeks leading up to the final month of the season. I don’t care if it creates a tough decision in the not-too-distant future. All hands need to be on deck.

Uncertainty with the starting rotation could cause the Mets to buy a starting pitcher

The Mets have a three-man rotation at the moment. David Peterson has been more miss than hit and Joey Lucchesi is only effective when he pitches less than five innings. Carlos Carrasco and Noah Syndergaard are expected to make their season debut at some point this summer. I think we all know better than to put all of our faith in hopefulness.

After all, you are a Mets fans, right?

Is it so insane to expect the Mets to maybe buy a starting pitcher this summer? It wouldn’t be an ace-level guy. Someone on an expiring contract having an atypically good year could do.

I would pay close attention to those veteran starters on bad teams right now. Any of them could slip to the Mets in a swap which costs them very little. I know starting pitching is in high demand around the trade deadline. It will cost the Mets something, but maybe not as much as we think if the supply is at least close to the demand.

Starting pitching is one thing the Mets cannot ignore. Fortunately, building up depth in the offseason was a primary focus of this front office. The depth hasn’t worked out to perfection, but the team is very much alive and has stayed well afloat even with multiple injuries to their starters.

This all leads to one final question I would like to propose: how willing should the Mets be to overpay for a starting position player or pitcher?