NY Mets rumors: David Stearns eliminated a large number of trade targets on Friday

There are a couple of things New York Mets fans can appreciate about David Stearns. The way he has a knack for managing the roster, the superb finds from the bottom of the garbage can, and how quickly he’ll cut an underperforming player are all on the list of reasons to like him. He also doesn’t seem to shy away from the media. Stearns talks a lot and he’s going to have to answer for a lot in the coming days.

The MLB trade deadline will help define Stearns’ year. Improve the Mets and he’ll be up there for Executive of the Year. Flounder away an opportunity and fans will be unjustly calling for his job.

Prior to Friday’s game against the San Francisco Giants, Stearns spoke to the media. One of the questions was in regards to the possibility of the Mets acquiring a starting pitcher. Stearns didn’t seem swayed from his usual philosophy with starting pitchers.

David Stearns is sticking to his guns, for better or worse

“Raise the ceiling” can be interpreted a couple of different ways. You could even be someone who’d prefer to see the floor raised with the starting staff. However you feel, it’s up to Stearns to make the final call.

Stearns’ poker face was in full effect when answering this question. He didn’t rule out the possibility of a trade for a starting pitcher. He also didn’t seem so quick to suggest one is on the way. A master of navigating questions like these as to not set expectations differently from what the reality is, the big takeaway from this is who Stearns thinks would actually raise the ceiling and how the Mets would even manage to find room.

A lot of those roster questions are answered in September when two more spots become available, but in August there wouldn’t be much room for the Mets to have six starters locked in place. The bullpen is already getting crowded with the addition of Gregory Soto. Unless the team was to move someone else there, which they wouldn’t have much space for anyway, a starting pitcher addition already seemed unlikely for a team that has relied on their starters so heavily already this season.

Frankie Montas remains their weak link in the chain with questions about how long Clay Holmes can sustain going 5+ also sounding some alarms about the team’s need for a starting pitcher. Health concerns are always present with Kodai Senga. The lefty duo of Sean Manaea and David Peterson are the least concerning with maybe only some doubts about how good they can be down the stretch.

Stearns has some room for creativity. He could always use a lesser reliever in a trade for a better one. Use the current Mets player’s years of control and/or lower salary as a selling point. Their overcrowded infield could help them become a trade partner with a fellow contender.

Even if the “raise the ceiling” types of players are available, we shouldn’t feel too confident there will be any true Mets rumors linking them to the player. Based on Stearns’ comments, it would seem every known rental starting pitcher from Merrill Kelly to Zac Gallen is of little interest.