3 NY Mets roster moves they should make in August other than promoting Brandon Sproat

It's obvious that the New York Mets are going to call up Brandon Sproat soon. Sproat has a 2.34 ERA, 30.5% strikeout percentage, and 22.2% K%-BB% since the start of July. Now that Frankie Montas is hitting the IL with a season-ending injury, Sproat's MLB debut should come soon. But that shouldn't be the only roster move they should make. They should make these moves to improve the pitching depth chart.

Designate Ryne Stanek for assignment

Ryne Stanek's first impression with the Mets wasn't great. He allowed 11 earned runs on 13 hits, including a trio of home runs, in 16.1 innings after he was acquired from the Seattle Mariners, nearing the 2024 trade deadline. Despite his struggles down the line last season, the Mets opted to re-sign him.

At first, it looked as if Stanek was on the path to rebounding. He had a 3.26 ERA, 2.49 FIP, and 1.29 WHIP in 19.1 IP by the end of May. The most impressive part is that he didn't allow a home run. But since then, it's been all downhill for Stanek. The veteran right-hander's last 23.2 innings have yielded a 7.61 ERA, 5.48 FIP, and 1.86 WHIP. While he has seen a slight uptick in his K% to 23.7%, his walk rate has also risen dramatically to 13.2%. Stanek has become extremely home run prone, with a 1.90 HR/9 ratio.

Stanek is a free agent at the end of the year, and there's no reason to keep him around for any longer than the Mets have to. He has been outright horrible for nearly three months now. This month alone, he has allowed 11 earned runs in just 5.1 innings pitched. It's time to cut bait with Stanek for a better option.

Give Dylan Ross a look

Speaking of better options than Stanek, it's time the Mets give right-hander Dylan Ross his call to the Major Leagues. Ross was initially selected in the 13th round of the 2022 draft by the Mets. But this is his first extended look in pro ball. Two UCL surgeries completely sidelined him for all of 2023 and all but a single inning in 2024. But Ross has been a dominant minor league reliever this season.

Ross owns a 2.81 ERA, 3.06 FIP, and 1.20 WHIP in 41.2 innings between Brooklyn, Binghamton, and Syracuse. He is striking out well over a third of opponents with a 38.2% K%, and has a ground ball rate of 55.6%. The only real downside to his game is his control, with a 12.4% BB% this season. This year at Syracuse, Ross has induced a spectacular whiff rate of 46.9%. He also hasn't allowed opponents to punish him either, with just a 2.4% barrel rate.

Ross isn't just dominating minor league batters, but overwhelming them with his stuff. He has a big fastball that he can run into the triple-digits. He'll also mix in a slider, splitter, curveball, and cutter. He may not have great command, but his pitches are all average or better. Ross doesn't have much left to prove in the minor leagues, and the Mets definitely have opportunities they could give him.

Add Jonah Tong to the 40-man roster so he's Postseason eligible

Another 2022 draft pick, Jonah Tong, has evolved into one of the best pitching prospects in baseball this year. He has been mowing down batters like it's nothing, and now he is at Triple-A. The Mets have the opportunity to add him to the 40-man roster, so they can stash him away in case they need him in the Postseason.

Tong has a microscopic 1.50 ERA, 1.67 FIP, and 0.92 WHIP over 107.2 IP between Binghamton and Syracuse. He is striking out batters even more frequently than Ross, with a 40.8% K%. He is also inducing plenty of ground balls, with a 54.1% GB%, which is helping him maintain a 0.17 HR/9. His 11% walk rate isn't going to wow anyone, but it's the only thing you could possibly criticize him over. 

Among minor league pitchers with at least 15 starts this year, Tong has the best ERA, FIP, K%, opponent batting average, third-best WHIP, and fifth-best HR/9. He is also now among the top 50 prospects on both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline. Selecting Tong's contract before September gives him Postseason eligibility. Even if they do not end up needing him, he is one of the best prospects in the sport. He deserves the 40-man roster spot after the sort of season he has had.