2 conflicting emotions every NY Mets fan may be experienced post-trade deadline

We’ll have some time to let it simmer and reap the rewards of what the New York Mets were able to add to their roster at the trade deadline. Will it be a haul of Addison Reeds or Billy Taylors in the bullpen? Is Cedric Mullins a Donn Clendenon or a Tyler Naquin?

However you feel about each trade individually, you may be a little confused about what’s going on. Before you call up that phone number advertised on your favorite podcast or download their app, know you’re not alone. Every fan is probably feeling these mixed feelings about what transpired.

We like what the Mets did but can’t help but feel they should’ve done more

Did we overvalue certain Mets prospects’ worth on the trade market? Or maybe it’s David Stearns who hasn’t quite figured out who fits where therefore it’s best to hold onto every young player they can. The Mets farm system didn’t get much worse after the trade deadline. Everyone surrendered has an equal or better prospect at their position to take their place.

The Mets didn’t do anything bad. They also left a glaring hole in their rotation that, unfortunately, would require a lot of backtracking to improve.

The lone reasonable roster move the Mets could have made was to declare Clay Holmes’ time in the rotation over. Way too often, the experiment has stopped dead in its tracks by the sixth inning. Holmes is clearly not someone we can count on for more than 5 innings. This is fine in the postseason when he can be an effective bullpen arm. For two months in the regular season, it’s going to limit the Mets.

Yeah, you feel that way. We all do. At the same time, a conflicting emotion tells us we really didn’t want to pay a ridiculous price to get any starting pitcher. Someone like Zac Gallen, who wasn’t traded, would’ve been risky considering the year he is having. Other less available players like Sandy Alcantara haven’t impressed enough this year to warrant the asking price.. What were the Mets to do?

Merrill Kelly was the best starting pitcher traded. Charlie Morton changed uniforms as did Nestor Cortes and old friend Adrian Houser.

The price on starting pitching must’ve been steep, so much so the Mets weren’t even able to deal Paul Blackburn to anyone who felt the need to sacrifice a thing, let alone the remainder of his $4+ million salary for this season.

The MLB trade deadline is usually a time where a small number of notable starting pitchers change teams, usually ones on an expiring contract. This year was especially bullpen heavy with multiple controllable relief arms swapping teams. The Mets got in that mix early and we’re happy about it. What good is a stacked bullpen when the first couple of innings can cost you a game?