It’s all settled now. The MLB trade deadline is over and we can reconnect with our husbands, wives, children, and the handyman waiting near the door for the last month owed a payment. The focus of the baseball world has been on what each team would do at the trade deadline. Like a return home from vacation, the immediate aftermath has many of us wondering, what’s next for the New York Mets?
The team resumes on-field action on Friday versus the San Francisco Giants. A new look bullpen plus an improved lineup should have us feeling more confident about where the team is at.
How’d they do? Let’s hand out some grades.
1) Gregory Soto
Gregory Soto wasn’t a favorite on many people’s trade deadline wish lists. A 3.96 ERA for the Baltimore Orioles this season, he’s the type of pitcher who’ll blow away the opponent for three late outs or walk ‘em loaded before tossing a wild pitch. Poor command at times has held him back from becoming a truly effective big league reliever.
Nevertheless, he was a necessary addition to the Mets as their second lefty in the bullpen. Behind Brooks Raley, he’s actually quite perfect. Soto has held lefty hitters at bay this year. Not franchise altering or even the best available lefty on the market, he seems to fit the pool of pitchers the Mets actually needed.
To get Soto, the Mets gave up Wellington Aracena and Cameron Foster. Only Aracena was a ranked prospect with Foster being a good yet overlooked relief pitcher in Double-A. Each feels expendable if the mission is to win a championship in 2025.
The Mets began their trade deadline mayhem by landing Soto. A positive feeling simply because it had been their longest and most obvious need, it makes the honor roll