5 musts for the Mets to score an A+ at this year's trade deadline

What the New York Mets do at the MLB trade deadline will make or break their season. Some of the ramifications of the decisions they make could even leak over into next season and beyond. Winning at the trade deadline goes beyond just getting the highest return with giving up the least. Whoever wins the World Series gets the bragging rights. However, there are plenty of A+ grades to go around.

If the Mets want a perfect score at this year’s trade deadline, they must do each of these five things.

1) The Mets must fortify the bullpen with two massive improvements

There’s no excuse here. The Mets need at least two bullpen arms. Righty. Lefty. Ambidextrous. Amphibious. It doesn’t matter. Get better.

This will come with some roster casualties. The Mets will want to keep at least one, possibly two, spots on the roster open for optional relievers. This means players could get DFA’d or even dealt in separate deals to open up room and flexibility.

So far this season, the bullpen has been the longest lasting issue for the team. Season-ending injuries for Brooks Raley and Drew Smith threw a curveball their way. As they continue to find the best internal options they can, the Mets need to remain unsatisfied with whatever they get from the current group. We’ve seen how quickly even high-performers can fall apart. Reed Garrett is not only hurt but also not quite the same stud he was earlier on.

Phil Maton was a nice start. Alex Young was a wise pickup. The Mets are going to need more.

2) The Mets must get better without giving up any of their best prospects

Easier said than done. Fortunately, the Mets probably aren’t in the market for any sort of blockbuster trade. You never know, though. They’ve surprised us before. When an unexpected and amazing opportunity comes along, they need to grab hold.

There are some prospects who should be off-limits. The list isn’t long. Last summer’s additions Drew Gilbert, Ryan Clifford, and Luisangel Acuna are among them. So are draft picks Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat. Add in Christian Scott who has already arrived. Anyone else from Ronny Mauricio to Brett Baty should be made available in the right deal.

Several of the best Mets prospects haven’t had the most amazing seasons. Several of the ones listed above have spent much of the year hurt. Keeping the farm system intact at the top is important. While not completely untouchable, the Mets’ trade deadline needs don’t need to include selling any major piece.

What will two bullpen arms and an outfielder really cost anyway? The price on a rental relief pitcher is ridiculously high like a gas station sandwich. Much like those loaves with some meat in the middle, you’re never quite sure what you’re going to get from them. Ham or pastrami? Cheese or salami? This is where the scouts come in handy.

3) The Mets must hold onto their MLB starting pitcher depth

It’s still boggling that the Mets will consider trading away a starting pitcher when they could really use every able-bodied pitcher they can get. Their depth in the minor leagues isn’t spectacular. Upon the return of Kodai Senga, the team will need the addition of a sixth starter on a regular basis which should have David Peterson in the mix often. Let’s not forget Christian Scott’s innings limit that will have him out of the rotation at some point.

If the Mets can improve the bullpen and not sell off any of their best prospects and not subtract from the starting rotation, they’re well on their way to scoring an A+ grade at the trade deadline.

We should hear plenty more rumors and mock trade proposals involving Luis Severino, Sean Manaea, or Jose Quintana going to a contender for bullpen help. As fun as those trades can be to come up with, they’re equally as aggravating. There will be nothing the Mets can do after the trade deadline other than find a deity to pray to.

The Mets can, of course, come away with a ransom for one of their starters and look good after the trade deadline dust settles. The growing fear of what they’d do once someone goes down with an injury will quickly erase those good feelings. Do we really believe the team could get all that much for any of their three rentals?

5) The Mets must flex their financial strength

What good is having the richest owner in the sport and for that financial might to not constantly flex? It’s like working out all winter and spring and then showing up to the beach in anything but a speedo.

The Mets have been much more cautious financially under David Stearns. Understandably so, they went beyond the brink of sanity with several free agent moves. They’re still paying the literal dollar price for some of those free agent additions who are no longer with the ball club.

This shouldn’t stop the Mets from at least, to some extent, proving there is no dollar amount too high for them. Paying more into the Competitive Balance Tax will dip them further into the red. The bigger ramifications, which come from punishments in the draft and whatnot, are the only concerns. Considering the Mets have already gone as high as they have with the payroll, there is no reason to stop now. Next season is the year when they receive some relief when major contracts come off the books.

Financial strength of the Mets doesn’t need to include dumping a bad salary or taking on one of epic proportions. Something as simple as paying out the remaining portion of a player’s contract for the rest of 2024 is satisfying enough.

Most of all, the Mets can’t avoid anyone just because of how much he’ll add to the 2024 payroll. Luckily, they haven’t hesitated in this spot yet. This year’s Mets don’t make decisions to protect themselves from financial penalties. It shouldn’t stop at the trade deadline.