NY Mets rumors: Jeff Passan taps struggling ace as a best fit for a trade to Queens

All the talk surrounding the New York Mets at the upcoming trade deadline has centered around them bringing in bullpen help. While the overall numbers for the bullpen are decent, there has been significant regression over the past month. The guys they relied on in April and May have been dreadful in June. The Mets need to find another high-leverage reliever to pair with Edwin Diaz and have someone else you can trust to get three outs and hold the lead.

However, what's lost in this quest for a bullpen arm is the need to address other areas, specifically the starting rotation. This need is something ESPN Insider Jeff Passan talked about in his recent article, citing Zac Gallen as the best fit. Here is how Gallen can help the Mets during the pennant chase.

A change of scenery could be what Zac Gallen needs to return to the ace the Mets need

It's been a struggle so far this season for Gallen. Through 19 starts, he's pitched 110 innings with an ERA of 5.15, with 107 strikeouts to 47 walks, a 1.345 WHIP, and an ERA+ of 81. However, this season has been an outlier, as he has been one of the more consistent pitchers in the league. Over his seven years in the majors, he has an ERA of 3.51 over 925 1/3 innings with 992 strikeouts to 301 walks, a 1.160 WHIP, and an ERA+ of 121.

The reason for Gallen's struggles this season has been the type of contact he's been giving up. He has allowed solid contact to 9.4% of batters faced, which is a 1.8% increase from 2024 and 2.2% higher than his career average. Opposing hitters also have an 11.9 barrel percentage, a 4.5% increase from 2024, and 3.5% higher than his career average. He has also given up a hard hit in 48% of hitters faced, which is in the 7th percentile among qualified MLB pitchers.

These struggles are concerning; however, a change of scenery could be all he needs to go back to the pitcher he was throughout his career. It also wouldn't hurt to work with Jeremy Hefner, who has proven to get the most out of the pitchers he works with. While he won't get to fully utilize the Mets' pitching lab, given his brief stay in Queens, he will receive a few tips to help him return to being the ace pitcher he once was.

The Mets will also be buying low on Gallen, meaning they won't have to give up a big haul to get him. While his track record will demand some decent prospects, given his results this season, his status as a free agent, and the Mets' unlikely interest in signing him, the package will be significantly less. It will likely cost them a top-15 prospect and a couple of young prospects who are years away from the majors.

While it is risky to trade for a struggling starter, it's a low-risk, high-reward type of move. He could return to the pitcher he was before 2025 and become the ace they desperately need.