3 Mets players who will not be on the roster after the trade deadline

The New York Mets have sat in first place for most of the season and have the National League's second best record heading into the all-star break. It's been a remarkable season thus far, especially since they've done this without their best player, Jacob deGrom.

deGrom is on his way back, not too long after Max Scherzer made his triumphant return to the rotation after missing well over a month with injury.

While the rotation looks to be in excellent shape, other areas of the roster will need improvement. The bullpen needs a left handed reliever who can pitch in high leverage spots, as well as a traditional high leverage arm. The lineup could use more power, as the Mets rank in the bottom half of baseball in home runs.

There are three players who have to be off of the Mets roster by the time August third rolls around.

1) Mets roster will not have Dominic Smith on it after the trade deadline

It's been time for Dom Smith and the Mets to part ways for a while now. He has not been the same since his breakout 2020 campaign and he doesn't have a path to consistent playing time.

Dom has had a couple of chances to get regular at bats against right handed pitching but has been routinely outhit by Luis Guillorme. Smith has slashed .194/.276/.284 with no home runs and 17 RBI.

Smith hit 10 home runs in just 50 games in 2020, a 32 home run pace for a full season. He then followed that up with just 11 home runs in 145 games played last season. Smith went over two months without a longball to wrap up the 2021 season, and that streak has continued into this season. This week the one year anniversary of his last home run will pass.

The Mets have a glaring hole at the DH spot. Dom Smith is a big reason why. That's the number one spot they have to upgrade at the deadline, and with Dom's lack of position versatility, I can't see him lasting on this roster. He's simply not a good hitter anymore.

3) Mets roster will not have Travis Jankowski on it after the trade deadline

Travis Jankowski has been a fun addition to this Mets team. He brings speed and defense and is fun to watch in my opinion. However, he simply cannot hit. When the Mets were in Atlanta without Jeff McNeil and Starling Marte, Jankowski had to play every day and he was hitless in eight at-bats.

Jankowski fits the profile of the other fourth outfielders the Mets have rostered in the last couple of years like Juan Lagares, Keon Broxton, and Jake Marisnick to name a few. All glove, no bat.

With the Mets getting virtually nothing from their catcher and DH spots offensively, they need more from this roster spot even as a backup. The Mets can find an outfielder with speed who can play defense and can also hit at a relatively league-average level.

Jankowski has just nine hits in 54 at-bats and no hits in his last 29 at-bats dating back to May 2nd. He has a -0.1 WAR despite most of his appearances coming as a defensive replacement or pinch runner.

The Mets have done very well when he's appeared in games, but that's mainly because he comes in for the ninth inning when the Mets have a lead for defense. Plenty of outfielders with speed who can play defense can do this while hitting better than he has.