David Stearns has some NY Mets roster moves to make before September

Scream it at your highest decibel, translated into every language, and spread across every social media platform you know. The New York Mets are making roster moves with more than just fielding the best team in mind; for better or worse.

Throughout this season, David Stearns has regularly legally manipulated the roster in ways to benefit the club long-term while carefully planning the implementation of other decisions. From keeping Francisco Alvarez down in the minors long enough to earn an extra year of control to keeping others on the farm for less than 20 days to keep their minor league option, we should fully expect more on the way in August.

Call up Nolan McLean or Brandon Sproat as soon as possible because it no longer

Nolan McLean or Brandon Sproat will be in the majors eventually in some sort of a role. They've gone beyond the point of years of control playing a role. This late in the season, it would be almost impossible for either to lose their rookie eligibility for the Prospect Promotion Incentive which could reward the Mets with some nice gifts if either wins the 2026 Rookie of the Year.

Based on the schedule, the most appropriate time might be during their stretch in late August when they play every day from August 19-September 3. Their finale against the Atlanta Braves on August 24 would be the absolute latest one of these arms should be on the major league roster.

Recall Luisangel Acuna before serving 20 days in the minors, demote Brett Baty

Luisangel Acuna was sent down to the minors upon the arrival of Cedric Mullins, but he should be back before 20 days have passed. By doing this, the Mets retained his final minor league option. It’s the exact opposite of how they handled Alvarez and similar to how they’ve treated Acuna during other periods in the minor leagues this season. He has yet to stay down long enough to burn through the final minor league option.

The Mets haven’t been able to get a whole lot from Brett Baty offensively. With Jeff McNeil at second base and Ronny Mauricio the most regular at third base with spurts of Mark Vientos, Baty is an odd man out and not all that useful off the bench as a bat. Acuna, on the other hand, brings more to the table as a pinch runner and option to play shortstop or center field in a pinch.

This was always a thought the Mets likely had with Acuna regardless of how Baty was performing. Keeping Acuna and Baty’s final minor league option adds to their trade value for the offseason and gives the club the flexibility to demote either at the start of next season.