Maybe the NY Mets chose the wrong high-leverage reliever after all

Ryan Stanek’s inconsistency is one of the many reasons David Stearns and New York Mets will be fully in the market for bullpen help at the trade deadline. Stanek holds a 4.55 ERA in 37 games with a -0.6 WAR. Stanek was one of the Mets best bullpen pieces in the postseason but has rarely been able to find that form in his second season in Queens.

When the Mets chose to re-sign Stanek in late January it unofficially marked the end of Phil Maton’s tenure with the team. Stearns brought in both Stanek and Maton late in the 2024 season but there was no immediate need to bring both relievers back for a second season.

The NY Mets chose Ryne Stanek over Phil Maton and it's come back to bite them.

Maton pitched to a 2.51 ERA in 31 games for the Mets last season, but the team then declined his 2025 option. Maton eventually signed with the Cardinals and when St. Louis visited Citi Field earlier in the season Maton voiced his displeasure for how things went down.

Despite allowing four runs in 2.1 against the Mets this season, Maton has otherwise been shut down out of the Cardinals bullpen. The righty has a 2.55 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 37 games. The Mets are in desperate need for a high-leverage reliever to help them get to Edwin Diaz and Maton may have just been that guy.

The numbers don’t lie; Stearns picked the wrong reliever to bring back for a second season in blue and orange. At times, Stanek has shown his dominance, pumping his triple-digit fastball and high whiff rate. It’s his outings like last Wednesday’s loss in Baltimore that make him a scary option in late game situations for a team contending for a title.

The Mets may even have a few more wins if Maton was still on the team. Who knows, Maybe he could be reacquired at the deadline if the Cardinals decide to offload some of their expiring contracts. Like Stanek, most of the buttons Stearns have pushed for the bullpen have not worked out. It should make for a very eventful July 31st.