Semi-positive NY Mets prediction includes the one road David Stearns can't take

The New York Mets are in no position to pick a trade deadline path. This won’t staff fans, media people, or anyone else from speculating about the road they’ll take. August 3rd is when this year’s trade deadline arrives which gives them two months to pick an extreme.

Bleacher Report is already making some trade deadline predictions. If you feel like that’s too early, the best predictions often come early. Otherwise you’re more prone to get it right. Where’s the fun in that?

You can’t talk about the league as a whole without mentioning what the Mets have done (or haven’t). At 26-34 and in sole possession of last place in the NL East after their loss on Monday, the Mets have a long way to go before they climb back into relevancy. Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller actually seems to believe in the Mets enough to predict they won’t undergo a massive firesale. However, the prediction doesn’t include a lot of selling.

Standing pat is the one thing the Mets can’t do at this year’s trade deadline

You either buy lightly or you sell everything. The in between is what backfires most. The last thing your team needs is to win enough games in August and September and fall short because you failed to add to your biggest weakness.

What makes early Mets trade deadline predictions complicated are the number of players on the injured list. The unknown of the impact many of them, Francisco Lindor as the most prolific, coming back is what will have many believing.

The prediction has the Mets with about a 56-57 record, making up significant ground from where they are today and only 3-5 games out of a playoff spot. If that’s the case, how can they not buy at least a bat or an arm?

The 2024 Mets trade deadline was rather tame in comparison to some others. The team made multiple one prospect for one major leaguer trades. Jesse Winker for Tyler Stuart and Ryne Stanek for Rhylan Thomas were two of their bigger trades. They also added Huascar Brazoban who wasn’t effective but has since become a big part of the bullpen.

Way too many “ifs” exist at the moment to know for sure what the Mets can possibly do. Already fast-forwarding with Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing in the lineup, Christian Scott in the rotation, and dribbles of other youngsters with more on the way, it wouldn’t even be so outrageous for the Mets to do a 2024 Detroit Tigers and sell then become a playoff team anyway.

A big debate beyond just this prediction is what the Mets could even get at the trade deadline. Freddy Peralta is one movable piece, but many others are under contract beyond this season or hurt. Trading Peralta before the trade deadline would feel like waving the white flag. Worse would be to trust in the roster that already exists.

The Mets don’t need to go crazy at this year’s trade deadline. What they can do is find another Brazoban, take on a contract like Phil Maton’s from 2024, or even plug in a veteran like Winker to fill a need. If nothing else, go for broke and add a starting pitcher you think you can fix.

A lame, inactive trade deadline for the Mets is better than being fooled into thinking you’re better than you actually are. With a reputation on the line and what should tighten the leash, the biggest mistake Stearns could make is to sit on his hands and tell us the dumpster isn’t on fire there is legitimate smoke.

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