5 NY Mets players who can save them from overpaying for someone at the trade deadline

5) Tylor Megill

The NY Mets' rotation has been outright dominant. Four of their five starting pitchers have an ERA under 3.00. David Peterson is the only one with an ERA over 3.00 and an ERA+ lower than 130. Even then, he still has a strong 3.56 ERA/111 ERA+. But the Mets will have some starters returning from the injured list later this season, specifically Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas.

When that happens, they'll have to push someone to the bullpen, and it could end up being Tylor Megill. It's definitely not because Megill has been bad this year. He has a 2.50 ERA, 2.83 FIP, and 1.17 WHIP in 36 innings. While his 9.7% walk rate is below average, his 29.2% strikeout rate is one of the best in the league. Megill also owns just a 0.50 HR/9 ratio and is in the 76th percentile of barrel rate at 5.5%.

Underlying numbers also like what Megill is doing. He has a 3.36 SIERA, 3.28 xFIP, and is in the 77th percentile of xERA at 3.07. Stuff+ pins Megill as well above-average, clocking in at 112. It would be hard to push Megill out of the rotation with numbers this good, but there are some reasons why he could be the odd man out.

Megill has yet to go deep into a game, reaching the six-inning mark just once in seven starts this season. 2023 marks the only season he's ever tossed more than 100 innings, or started more than 20 games in one year. He also doesn't have a great track record. From 2021 through 2024, Megill only worked to a 4.56 ERA (88 ERA+), 4.40 FIP, and 1.39 WHIP.

However, moving Megill to the bullpen would add yet another internal reinforcement to the reliever depth chart, similar to both De La Cruz, and Raley. The Mets won't have to sell off a top prospect, or multiple top prospects, to acquire a decent right-handed reliever, if they opt to move Megill to the pen once Manaea is back in action.