NY Mets Monday Morning GM: The need for a bat vs. an arm

Jul 8, 2021; New York City, New York, USA; A general view of the exterior of Citi Field prior to the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Mets. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 8, 2021; New York City, New York, USA; A general view of the exterior of Citi Field prior to the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Mets. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – AUGUST 20: A detailed view of the rosin bag and pine tar rag belonging to the New York Mets sitting in the rack prior to the game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on August 20, 2016 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

The case for the Mets to go out there and land a stud starting pitcher

If Jacob deGrom, Marcus Stroman, and Taijuan Walker are able to have second halves that resemble their first, the team is in pretty good shape. But a three-man rotation doesn’t work. This isn’t the NLDS yet. You need at least four reliable starters and a fifth guy to occasionally dazzle in order to go far—at least for depth purposes.

We’re witnessing now what the Mets could possibly do without making a trade. Tylor Megill is a candidate to eat up a few more starts. My concern with him is a potential innings limit. He’s already nearing a career-high in frames.

We could see the Mets try something they’ve done before or elevate a reliever to the rotation. I don’t find either to be a solution. Sean Reid-Foley and Robert Gsellman are better-suited as relievers this season.

The best hope, outside of a trade, is for Carlos Carrasco to get healthy. Hope, though, isn’t a winning recipe.

Just about every option the club could do has been exhausted. Corey Oswalt isn’t going to finally look fantastic on the mound. Jared Eickhoff is filler material.

I do think the Mets can still clinch a division title without adding a fourth big league starter. However, they risk having a fractured rotation if even one of the big healthy three goes down with an ailment.

A returning David Peterson could help alleviate some of the pain, but even he hasn’t been so effective this season. The Mets are flirting with danger by not making any trade for a starter. Is it what the club needs most?

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