3 way too early trade deadline additions the Mets will need to address

New York Mets v Miami Marlins
New York Mets v Miami Marlins / Megan Briggs/GettyImages
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The MLB trade deadline is something only baseball psychopaths like myself have already made plans around this year. It’s a good day for fans to take some PTO to follow all of the action. Call up your family or friends if you still have any to help around the house as you stay glued to Twitter hitting refresh only to be disappointed multiple times. The New York Mets should be active once again this summer. Make your plans now.

After a week and a half of the MLB season, it’s way too early to know exactly what the Mets are going to need. One pulled hamstring or a structurally damaged elbow can completely change things. However, we do know for sure it’s these three aisles Eppler will most likely need to shop in barring some kind of an inflated season in the best way possible from different Mets players.

1) NY Mets will need a high-leverage reliever 

This is an easy target to assume. Remove Edwin Diaz from the equation and the Mets bullpen feels so much different in a bad way. David Robertson might be able to handle the closer job all year. If he does, that’s great! It shouldn’t stop the Mets from searching for other relievers to help them in those late innings. After all, with Robertson’s promotion to the closer spot, they’re now missing a setup man.

There are certain relievers to watch this year fill in and make up for the loss. Even so, there are several relievers on the Mets roster right now who could be upgraded rather easily.

Relievers change uniforms plenty and the trade deadline is when they are typically active in the real estate market. Exactly how high the Mets go in their pursuit of relief help will depend on the performance and health of guys like Robertson, Adam Ottavino, Brooks Raley, and maybe even Drew Smith.

One of the biggest splashes the Mets look like they’ll need is in the bullpen. There may, however, be one bigger.

2) NY Mets will need a slugger, preferably one who can do more than DH

How will the Daniel Vogelbach platoon with Tommy Pham turn out? In a simulated baseball world where nerds rule the roost, probably pretty well.

Vogelbach has a reputation for hitting well against righties. Pham has done pretty well versus lefties. There might not be a better Felix and Oscar odd couple out there to platoon together. Even their personalities seem a bit different, at least for reputation’s sake.

Even if these two do well, it looks like the Mets are going to need some pop in the order. Brett Baty is definitely a candidate to supply it over at third base. Believing Tim Locastro won’t be with the club all season long, we find another roster spot where the Mets could conceivably fill in with a truer masher.

This isn’t the year to hold onto a hitter like Pham or Vogelbach because they’re performing okay. The DH spot is there for one purpose. Say it with me: ensure one more player on the roster gets paid a high salary.

Not what you said? You probably thought it was to hit baseballs. That is also correct.

Having such little confidence in the DH spot as we do, the hunt for a slugger should begin for Eppler as soon as possible. He doesn’t have to pull the trigger anytime soon. But when he eventually does, let’s hope it’s not another Darin Ruf situation. Go bigger if this is a continued need for this ball club.

3) NY Mets will need a pitcher with options

Who says pitchers with talent and options aren’t available at the trade deadline? Maybe not you. The Mets could really use more pitching depth to an already depleted roster that has had to turn to Denyi Reyes for some help.

Although the trade wasn’t centered around him, the 2021 trade with the Chicago Cubs that landed the Mets a guy named Trevor Williams turned out to be an extremely effective acquisition. Williams was good for them in 2021 and again in 2022 as a starter and reliever.

The Mets may not necessarily need some of Williams’ experience or ability level. Someone they can push back and forth between the majors and minors would suffice. A starter struggling with his team the same way Williams was with the Cubs in 2021 could work. It could also turn into a massive failure.

More than anything, the Mets are going to need to find arms to improve their roster. After targeting a high-leverage reliever to attempt to replace what Robertson was supposed to be or even become the Mets closer, Eppler needs to turn his attention to the middle inning option.

Make it a lefty if you can. Settle for a righty who can get batters on both sides of the plate out.

dark. Next. 5 minor leaguers who will be key for the Mets in the first half

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