5 Mets roster questions to answer before the August 1 trade deadline

Where has the time gone? July is nearly over. It seems like only yesterday the New York Mets were dying in June. July began with a brief resurrection until reality bit.

The Mets aren’t good. They’re not going to go on an impossible run. They’re going to sell at the trade deadline. August 1 will be here before we know it and the front office needs to answer these five questions.

1) NY Mets roster question: Is the team better with or without Justin Verlander next year?

If the Mets are going to hit the reset button, trading Justin Verlander makes sense. Clear out some salary. Get something of value in return. Add two starting pitchers in the offseason with the money they’d pay Verlander.

It sounds easier than it actually would be. The optics of parting ways with him this quickly into year one of his deal won’t do the Mets any favors either. The organization remains unstable in the management department. Keeping a veteran like Verlander around can help create some semblance of familiarity within the organization while sending an outward message to free agents.

Verlander is 4-5 with a 3.47 ERA this season. These aren’t Verlander numbers. They’re passable for a mid-rotation arm which is something the Mets haven’t always had the easiest time at finding.

The upside of what Verlander can give the Mets next year is too important to think about before doing anything drastic with him. Three of his losses this year came in a Mets shutout where he went 5 innings and 3 earned runs or less. 

The question: Are the Mets a better team with or without Justin Verlander on the roster next year?

The answer: They’re better. Keep Justin Verlander because it’s no easy task to replace him even if his 2023 performance hasn’t met expectations.

3) NY Mets roster question: How willing are they to cut players they cannot trade?

Not all of those “dead weight” players can get traded. What kind of a market is there for Carlos Carrasco? Daniel Vogelbach is a bad fit for the Mets. Other teams will feel the same way.

The logical move after the trade deadline might be to cut certain players the Mets are unable to move. It sounds silly to hold onto a player they don’t intend to keep around post-deadline. Surely, someone will offer up even a low-level prospect with little upside in return for a big leaguer.

The Mets need to have their post-trade deadline plans completely mapped out. This includes who they’re willing to part ways with via the DFA.

It’s not unusual for teams to eat money on players who’ve outworn their welcome. Carrasco is a pitcher so he might get the benefit of staying for the purpose of eating innings. Vogelbach can survive through the end of the year as well and become a non-tender candidate in the offseason.

This question is all about money. How much more will Steve Cohen be willing to pay for players wearing other uniforms?

The question: Will the Mets cut players they cannot trade?

The answer: It doesn’t matter unless someone is taking away playing time from someone who will be around next season. By the time we get to September, it’s dead money anyway. 

4) NY Mets roster question: Which prospects are on the MLB roster?

The Mets are probably going to subtract Mark Canha and Tommy Pham from the roster. The rest of the position players are likely to stay except for maybe our good friend, Daniel Vogelbach. There aren’t a whole lot of new spots opening up, but at-bats and innings to pitch will be more available.

Left field is the spot where we don’t need to see DJ Stewart anymore. It’s a spot where we could see Ronny Mauricio. Even Mark Vientos should get some repetitions there to open up the possibility of making him more useful.

There aren’t any obvious position players other than Mauricio who still need to make their MLB debut. A few pitchers, on the other hand, could be promotion candidates.

Mike Vasil is the pitching prospect closest to the majors. The 23-year-old righty has struggled in his 6 Triple-A starts, going 1-1 with a 6.94 ERA in 23.1 innings of work. He was much better in Double-A, going 1-2 with a 3.71 ERA spanning 10 starts.

The question: Which, if any, Mets prospects will be regulars for the remainder of the 2023 season?

The answer: Ronny Mauricio needs to play somewhere. Get some of those rookie jitters out of the way. Play him in left field. Start him at second base. Give him shortstop appearances and DH Francisco Lindor at times. Hold off on the pitchers. They’re not going to be ready for Opening Day 2024 anyway. Delay their free agency.

5) NY Mets roster question: What can be prepared for next season?

Aside from getting Ronny Mauricio some major league at-bats, there are a few items the Mets can prepare for next season. Something to consider is going with a six-man rotation. If they’re going to make a run at Shohei Ohtani, we mine as well see how the pitchers returning next season can handle the extra day of rest. Kodai Senga already prefers this schedule.

The six-man rotation through the end of the year, even if it’s not an idea they’re completely married to, would allow for another look at David Peterson, Tylor Megill, and maybe even Joey Lucchesi in the rotation. Those three remain a big mystery. In particular, Lucchesi has become a complete afterthought in the organization.

Once a team sells pieces at the trade deadline the focus is entirely on the following season. This involves every facet of the organization. Roster management, in-game decisions, and a focus on what’s next is what those final weeks become all about. For the 2023 Mets, it should include getting players like Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil back on track. Rest the ones who have been playing through injuries. Who else thinks there’s a couple of those?

The question: What actions will be taken to prepare for next season?

The answer: Everything. Try everything. Think outside of the box. Don’t waste a single at-bat on a player who isn’t in the plans for 2024.