NY Mets: Is there room to add a big bat at the trade deadline?

The way I see it, the New York Mets have one blockbuster deal in them this summer. It’s all most teams looking to buy can pull off. Otherwise, you risk depleting the farm system entirely.

Starting pitching has been the focus for many of us in terms of what the club needs. However, with David Peterson pitching better of late and the three mainstays continuing to dominate and escape major injury, it could benefit the Mets to instead seek out a big bat.

Offense has been a major weakness throughout the year. Even in some recent victories, the club has struggled to get runs across. The issue I have with finding the much-needed offense is a position for this hypothetical newcomer to play. When healthy, there’s no room at the Mets Inn.

A utility man could work for the Mets, but is that really going to kickstart the offense?

Adam Frazier is a name mumbled about as one of the more unique trade targets on the market this summer. The Pittsburgh Pirates utility man is having a year we might have expected from Jeff McNeil instead. Surely overpriced at the moment because of how well he’s swinging the bat, adding him to the Mets roster does make sense in some ways.

However, I’m not willing to rely on a lighter-hitter to get things going. The number of positions a guy plays can help but I’ll settle for a two-position man.

Prior to the Chicago Cubs letting the world know they’ll be competitive this year, Kris Bryant seemed to be the perfect trade candidate for the Mets. Putting him at third base or left field on any given night would have completely changed this lineup. Alas, the Cubs are competitive.

The best hope the Mets may have to fix all of their problems is a lesser deal similar to the Francisco Lindor/Carlos Carrasco trade from the offseason

Why not solve both needs with one trade? The Mets accomplished this in the offseason by picking up Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco in one move. Maybe there’s a lesser hitter and pitcher combination out there available to accomplish this.

It’s probably a little more costly than the Mets may pay, but a combination of Jon Gray and Charlie Blackmon from the Colorado Rockies can help accomplish this to a degree. Gray helps solidify the rotation for the remainder of this season while Blackmon gives them an outfielder they can plug in at all three positions should someone get hurt. He’s not nearly as necessary with Brandon Nimmo on his way back which could just mean the Mets have an expensive player on their bench. His contract extends through 2023 with a player option in 2022 and 2023.

Blackmon is not ideal nor do I think this really gives the Mets what’s needed. He’s an aging veteran, not a guy ripping baseballs in the prime of his career.

Another name to throw out, Ketel Marte of the Arizona Diamondbacks is a dream candidate to add. Pair him with one of their starters you think just needs a change of scenery and call it a day. Marte may, however, cost a bit more because of his age and the friendliness of his contract.

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The Mets may be looking at a major trade deadline decision as to what’s the bigger need: fixing the offense or doubling down on the pitching. The more I think about it, the more I prefer to get a little better in both areas.