3 reasons the Mets failed at the trade deadline

3) The Mets saw their two biggest division rivals get better. 

The Mets begin a stretch of games starting on Thursday where 16 of 18 games are against the Braves and the Phillies, including a five-game set beginning on Thursday at Citi Field against the Braves. 

The Braves had another busy trade deadline this season, as they got All-Star closer Raisel Iglesias from the Angels just as the deadline hit. The Braves also got another rotation option by trading with the Astros for Jake Odorizzi (Will Smith went back to Houston) and traded with the Tigers for Robbie Grossman, who has batted .364 with a .999 OPS against left-handed pitching this season. They also got Ehire Adrianza from the Nationals to replace the struggling Robinson Cano. Oh, and they signed Austin Riley to a 10-year, $212 milllion contract extension to boot. 

The Phillies got much better too. They traded former Mets star Noah Syndergaard and center fielder Brandon Marsh (who has been offensively challenged this season) from the Angels, and added a big Mets target in relief pitcher David Robertson from the Cubs. Robertson will finally have a chance to prove his worth to Phillies fans as a healthy reliever following a splendid season with Chicago. 

The National League East will be even more of a dogfight than the Mets even thought, and with the Padres acquiring Juan Soto, it would be even more important to win the division to avoid facing the Padres in a 4 vs. 5 matchup. Not a great look for Steve Cohen and Billy Eppler where their biggest rivals did more than they did.