2 Mets trade deadline needs they must address, 1 they can ignore

NY Mets trade deadline need to address: The starting rotation

The verdict has yet to fully come in on the starting rotation. It’s conceivable that this trade deadline need doesn’t become a major one for the Mets. If Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander are healthy, Kodai Senga is at least trustworthy, and Jose Quintana comes back and is even just average, the Mets are okay.

Okay isn’t good enough.

The Mets began the year with what looked like one of the best starting pitching depth charts in baseball. David Peterson spoiled some of those high hopes. Poor performances from Carlos Carrasco have piled on. Exactly how long can we count on Tylor Megill to even be a suitable enough rotation arm for them?

Another starting pitcher is something the Mets need to explore adding. A surer number three should be the goal. Someone like Senga or Quintana could help us settle with a number four-type. Just some guy who isn’t getting crushed on a regular basis.

In 2019, the Mets traded for Marcus Stroman at the trade deadline. In 2021, they brought in starter Rich Hill. Someone in between the two is a realistic possibility. Stroman was meant to be a top-of-the-rotation arm while Hill was more of a “get whatever we can” type of addition.

Surely, there will be a rental out there whose talent falls between the two.