3 red hot Mets players transforming this club into trade deadline buyers

Pendulums swing both ways. So does the way we feel about the 2024 New York Mets. A lousy start, a strong stretch after, followed by a defeated feeling for several weeks, and we’re back to feeling a lot better about where they measure up. Thanks to a pedestrian National League with what looks to be clustered in the middle with mediocrity, the Mets have avoided the 10-count.

How has this once declared dead team risen back? We can credit three red hot players whose June numbers have the Mets looking more like trade deadline buyers than sellers.

1) J.D. Martinez

You can’t talk Mets success without mentioning J.D. Martinez. Absolutely the key difference for this team in comparison to other recent bleak years, the team’s DH is the reason for this week’s heat wave. It began before his walk-off home run versus the Miami Marlins and continued through the weekend versus the San Diego Padres when he was the daddy of MLB’s daddies.

This month, Martinez is batting .315/.422/.593 with 3 home runs and 13 RBI. He has been absolutely clutch for the ball club. Twice during their ongoing winning streak he has won them games.

It’s hard to believe the Mets were any good this year without Martinez. Because of his late spring signing, Martinez opted to gear up in the minor leagues for a couple of weeks rather than toss himself straight into the pit of wolves. Upon his return, the Mets lineup deepened, but a few of his teammates were slumping.

One could make the case that Martinez's presence in the locker room is equally as valuable as his bat on the field. Say what you will about the leadership qualities of some of the longer tenured players. Optimistically positive at times, the messaging from Martinez at the team meeting in late May might’ve been what they really needed to hear.

Give the one guy with a World Series ring on this roster the benefit of the doubt.