Mets need to KISS at the trade deadline: Keep It Simple Stearns

There haven’t been any significant New York Mets rumors about how the team will behave at the trade deadline. David Stearns has kept things under wraps leaving us all guessing what’ll be what in the coming days.

Do they pull off a blockbuster of some kind or take a more simplistic approach by spackling instead of replacing the whole wall?

There is a design principle called KISS. The acronym stands for Keep It Simple, Stupid. The Mets can follow this only there is no stupidity involved. It’s Stearns, the man calling the shots, involved in this design of the 2024 Mets roster.

How the Mets can keep it simple at the trade deadline

Rather than trade from their MLB depth, whether it be a starting pitcher or a bat, the Mets need to go the traditional route and send prospects other places for their greatest needs. At the moment their needs would include bullpen help, an outfielder for the bench, and a starting pitcher.

They can pass on the starting pitcher although someone like the 2021 version of Trevor Williams should be on the table. Williams struggled as a starter for the Chicago Cubs that year and with an available minor league option, the team was able to use him as depth before asking him for a couple of late season starts and relief appearances. Best of all, he was under contract for another season. We got to see him shine in 2022 as a hybrid reliever and starter. This could’ve been Adrian Houser but alas that ship has sailed.

The need for an outfield bat isn’t paramount yet putting any sort of trust into DJ Stewart or Ben Gamel who can barely get into games would be a mistake. There are bargains out there. Our old friend Mark Canha shouldn’t cost more than taking on his salary. Kevin Pillar, having a much better season, wouldn’t require the Mets to surrender any significant prospect either.

Finally, there’s the need for bullpen aid. Often the biggest trade deadline targets around the league, this is where the Mets need to use their smarts more than anything else. We saw a preview of it with Phil Maton. The scouts got to work learning about why he wasn’t performing well with the Tampa Bay Rays and what led him to turning his season around. Acquired only for cash considerations, Stearns kept that trade very simple.

The time for a creative type of trade where the Mets sell Pete Alonso has passed. It never felt reasonable anyway. Days before the MLB trade deadline, much less so.

Keep it simple, Stearns. Give up young players. Take on salaries. Keep the chemistry alive. Add without subtracting.