NY Mets News: Juan Soto update, Francisco Alvarez trade value, Christian Scott trust

Maybe the key to a successful season is for the New York Mets to play in apocalyptic conditions every day. They opened the second half versus the Philadelphia Phillies with a 4-1 win beneath the smoke from the Canadian wildfires that made their way past the border patrol and ate up the sky.

The biggest news of the day was the admission of being open for business according to the latest Mets rumors. David Stearns hasn’t hung a “for sale” anywhere. It simply sounds like they’ve avoided delusion and could end up as one of the more active teams over the next two and a half weeks.

Within the game played came a few noteworthy performances and takeaways to pull from them.

Juan Soto is gonna be okay

Juan Soto exited Thursday’s game early (not for defense) but instead because of a dreaded calf acting up. An injury that sidelined him in April and a more serious version sending Francisco Lindor to the IL for even longer, this one doesn’t seem like a big deal.

Because there is no pennant race to fight for, the Mets can take it easy with Soto. In fact, if he’s feeling anything short of 100%, there’s no reason to put him on the field at all.

A lot of what this season has become is about the long-term look of the Mets. Nobody is more crucial to the team’s long and immediate success than the highest paid player on the team. In a lost year, you don’t risk one day-to-day injury from becoming an unnecessarily more painful one. Take it easy, big guy. Who even wants an MVP winner from such a lousy team?

Francisco Alvarez is increasing his trade value while also making us want to hold onto him tightly

Francisco Alvarez celebrated the second-half by going deep not once, but twice.

A potential Mets trade candidate, albeit we should have our doubts of anything actually happening, his 11 home runs now match the same totals from 2024 and 2025. He has achieved it faster and feels much more balanced of a hitter than he has ever been. Yeah, he’s not perfect. He’s also, as Andy Green took note of, one of the best number nine hitters in the league.

Green’s suggestion that Alvarez could be elevated isn’t anything new. Alvarez has hit higher in the Mets order enough and many times he has blown it. His trade candidacy is one to watch closely as the trade deadline nears. The catcher pool is weak across the entire league and the Mets haven’t made it a secret they prefer Luis Torrens behind the plate. They also remain enamored with what Alvarez can do as a hitter.

Don’t bet on him getting traded. But also, don’t pretend like you never saw it coming.

It’s time Andy Green trusts Christian Scott

Christian Scott had another strong appearance and while the atmosphere tried to get the best of him, we might want to start asking ourselves if Andy Green ever pushes him.

Green raised the standard of the entire team the last time Scott started, praising the Mets starter while also saying they desire more from him. Scott was removed after a near Kyle Schwarber home run to tie the game in favor of Brooks Raley to face Bryce Harper.

Is it because it was the Phillies, the player up at the plate, or something else that led Green to yank Scott out? Green made the right call if the Mets were playing for wins. They’re playing so when Scott gets in this spot next year, he’s able to get the out.

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