NY Mets roster: 1 player to promote, 1 to demote, 1 to trade

The Mets still have plenty more roster moves they could make.
Feb 20, 2025; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets outfielder Drew Gilbert (89) poses for a photo during picture day at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Feb 20, 2025; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets outfielder Drew Gilbert (89) poses for a photo during picture day at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
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We’re likely going to see a ton of roster moves in the coming days. With the trade deadline quickly approaching, rosters across the league will look a lot different than they do now. The New York Mets have already made one significant move, acquiring left-handed reliever Gregory Soto for two pitching prospects. There are many more roster moves they could make, aside from just adding a player via trade.

1 player to promote: Drew Gilbert

The Mets acquired Drew Gilbert in the Justin Verlander deal. After a disappointing 2024, Gilbert has turned things back around this year. Since the start of June at Triple-A Syracuse, Gilbert is hitting .266/.350/.500 with a .374 wOBA and 119 wRC+ over his last 181 plate appearances. While the outfield prospect’s 8.3% walk rate isn’t jumping off the page, his 13.4% strikeout percentage will. Along with a low strikeout percentage, Gilbert has been hitting for power. He has eight home runs and a .234 isolated slugging percentage. 

The Mets could upgrade center field by promoting Gilbert. While Gilbert has been breaking out at Syracuse, Tyrone Taylor has been struggling badly. Taylor’s last 115 plate appearances have yielded a .162/.211/.248 triple-slash, and 29 wRC+. The month of July has been awful for Taylor, with just five hits in 41 plate appearances, a dozen strikeouts, and a wRC+ of one (1).

Taylor is at least providing quality center field defense. He has +8 defensive runs saved on the year with +4 outs above average. Though Gilbert is far from a bad defensive outfielder. Baseball America projects his defense in the outfield as above-average. He has primarily played center field this season as well.

Taylor, having a wRC+ of exactly one this month, should be enough for the Mets to have Gilbert take his place. Let alone the fact that while Taylor has been struggling, Gilbert is finding a groove at Triple-A. Unless the Mets make a big trade at the deadline, Gilbert should be getting reps in center field at the Major League level very soon.