ESPN says if the NY Mets trade for one player it's this stud we could see this week

The New York Mets have appeared in their fair share of trade deadline rumors, but ESPN’s recent suggestion that they pursue Félix Bautista adds an unexpectedly ambitious wrinkle. On paper, it is an intriguing proposition: an elite reliever with multiple years of control and the kind of presence that could immediately reshape a bullpen. The move raises interesting questions about what the Mets are willing to commit to this season.

Bautista is not just a big name. He represents a certain kind of move, the kind that signals belief in something larger than a second-half push. Bringing in a pitcher of his caliber would mean more than upgrading a bullpen. It would hint at how this front office views the present, and how willing it might be to challenge expectations.

If the NY Mets were to pursue Bautista, it would mark a clear statement about the value of a dominant bullpen.

Felix Bautista’s comeback from Tommy John surgery and elbow issues has been quietly impressive. This season, he’s throwing to a 2.56 ERA, with opposing hitters posting an expected batting average (xBA) of just .162. With 45 strikeouts in 31.2 innings, Bautista is flashing the kind of dominance that once made him one of the game’s most feared closers. His one hiccup is the walk rate, which has crept up to 14.8 percent. That’s higher than you’d like, but considering he missed all of 2024, it’s fair to think he’s still shaking off some rust.

When Bautista’s on, he’s nearly unhittable. Back in 2023, he boasted a 46.4 percent strikeout rate, the best in MLB. This season, he’s still striking out batters at a top-five percent clip in MLB with a 35.2 percent rate. That kind of swing-and-miss stuff is exactly what you want when the game’s on the line.

Contract-wise, Bautista comes with two more years of arbitration control, a nice hedge given Edwin Díaz’s situation. Díaz has roughly $48 million, and three years left on his deal but holds an opt-out after this season. Should Díaz test free agency, Bautista could slide into the closer role without causing a panic in the Mets’ front office.

And here’s where the fit gets interesting: the Orioles are desperate for starting pitching, something the Mets have in abundance in their minor league system. That depth could be exactly the currency Baltimore wants, making Bautista a more realistic target than you might think.

Landing Bautista would let the Mets turn games into a seven-inning chess match. With Bautista and Díaz closing things out, manager Carlos Mendoza could lean on his starters and middle relievers with confidence. In tight games down the stretch, that kind of edge can be the difference between playoffs and wishing you were still in them.

Trading for Bautista might still be just a rumor, but it highlights a classic baseball equation: the Orioles need starting pitching, and the Mets have plenty to offer. If the pieces line up, the Mets could add a dominant arm to a bullpen that’s been searching for answers, turning late innings into a real advantage. It’s a storyline that deserves attention as the trade deadline draws near.