Grading all 7 Mets trade deadline moves

7) The Mets brought in two relievers in Phil Bickford and Adam Kolarek to fill out the roster for the rest of the season in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

With the Mets’ bullpen depleted with David Robertson shipped out, the team’s pivot to the 2024 season and beyond, and the Mets’ lack of major league pitching prospects worth looking at for the rest of the season, they needed pitchers just to fill out the major league roster for the rest of the season. The Mets recognized that, and they brought in two relievers that could use the change of scenery in Phil Bickford and Adam Kolarek.

Phil Bickford has been a below average reliever over the last two seasons with the Dodgers, posting an ERA+ of 86 in each season, and had a 5.14 ERA this season in 42 innings pitched, but he regressed this season, as his walks are up and strikeouts down. But Bickford got hammered on his slider all season, as opponents hit .313 against it, and had problems locating it. It will be the task for Jeremy Hefner to fix his control issues between now and the end of the season.

Bickford is not eligible for arbitration until after next year, so it will be interesting to see if the Mets can turn him into something useful for the future.

As for Adam Kolarek, the southpaw with a funky sidearm delivery, his career has been up and down, but he spent most of the season in Triple-A and not on the 40-man roster, though he was very good in Triple-A this season, posting a 2.40 ERA in 30 innings pitched.

These two big league additions won’t move the needle much, though.

Grade: C