David Stearns continues to tease a NY Mets roster move everyone is screaming for

There’s a special kind of mischief to how the New York Mets operate under David Stearns. Not chaos, not comedy, just the calm, calculated grin of a man who knows exactly what you want and who might give it to you. At this year’s deadline, fans didn’t walk away grumbling. They got bullpen reinforcements. They got Cedric Mullins. They have hope. And somehow, Stearns still left everyone wanting just a little more.

The bullpen got a makeover. Center field got a spark. But the rotation? Still waiting on its mystery guest. Reporters tossed softballs about depth, but Stearns stayed in teaser mode—noncommittal, smiling, saying just enough to stir the pot. Now Mets fans are watching Syracuse like hawks, refreshing the transaction wire and guessing which day Nolan McLean or Brandon Sproat might vanish from the Triple-A schedule. The move’s coming. Stearns won’t say when.

The Mets thrilled fans with deadline deals, but David Stearns continues to tease a roster move that could change everything.

The Mets didn’t trade for a starting pitcher, and that wasn’t some clerical error. It was a calculated choice, aligning with the quiet, strategic approach David Stearns has relied on since arriving in Queens. While the bullpen got a major facelift and center field finally found a reliable answer, the rotation stayed untouched, leaving fans and reporters wondering if something else was coming. With Montas shaky and Holmes struggling, the question was clear: Is someone from Syracuse about to get the call?

Stearns didn’t flinch, commit, or clarify. He leaned into the uncertainty like someone who knows exactly what’s next but prefers to keep everyone guessing a little longer. Whether it’s part of the plan or just suspense, all eyes are on the two arms Mets fans have circled.

Nolan McLean has made a serious case this year, pitching to a 2.60 ERA with 113 strikeouts over 104 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. Since arriving in Syracuse, he continued to impress with a 3.01 ERA, a .196 opponent average, and 13 outings in his last 15 allowing two runs or fewer. Walks and home runs remain a work in progress, but the results and raw stuff speak loudly.

Brandon Sproat started rough at Triple-A but recently flipped the narrative. Over his last five outings, he posted a 0.64 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 28 innings and held hitters to a .143 average. What began as development turned into a real case for promotion, especially as the Mets opted not to add outside rotation help while watching two of their starters struggle in July.

This isn’t about upside anymore. It’s about need and opportunity, with a front office leaving the door wide open. Stearns didn’t trade for a veteran, didn’t offer a roadmap, and didn’t pretend the rotation was perfect. Instead, he gave just enough to keep fans guessing. Stearns is playing the long game, and Mets fans know the final act is coming; they’re just waiting for the curtain to rise.