The Mets acquired Phil Maton from the Rays on Tuesday to bolster their bullpen in what the team, and fans, hope is a sign the organization will be buyers at this year’s trade deadline.
However, Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns will not use the deal to take a definitive stance on whether his team are buyers or sellers at the deadline just yet.
“[Maton is] a piece we think, today, helps our bullpen and helps our team and we’re going to continue to see what is out there and moves that may make sense for us and continue to learn about our team in the coming weeks,” Stearns said prior to the Mets’ series opener against the Nationals. “It’s just about trying to do what we can to put the best team on the field that we possibly can. We’ve tried to be as proactive as possible throughout the course of the year, incrementally upgrading where we can and this is another example of it.”
Maton joins a Mets bullpen that has allowed 40 earned runs in 45 innings since June 23, which equates to an 8.12 ERA. A blight on an otherwise magnificent turnaround by the Mets since their dreadful 9-19 May.
The team had one of their best months in franchise history in June, going 16-8 to get back to .500 and are following that up with a 4-4 record in July.
history in June, going 16-8 to get back to .500 and are following that up with a 4-4 record in July.
With six games against the Nationals and Rockies on the docket before the All-Star break, it’s an important time for the Mets, and Stearns will use it as a chance to help the front office decide on what side of the deadline they’ll be on.
“We’re going to continue to learn about our team over the coming weeks and we’ll take that opportunity to see what a full trade deadline strategy looks like,” he said.
Stearns said that he feels better about where the team stands today and is proud of the coaches and players for sticking together and overcoming their May slide. He also believes if the team continues to play well, they are a playoff-caliber team.
With the 2024 trade deadline set for July 30, the Mets have a few weeks to prove to Stearns and the front office that this team is worth taking a shot at the playoffs. Entering Tuesday, New York is 2.5 games back of the third and final Wild Card spot.
However, there are six other teams within six games of that same spot so Stearns knows things can change for the Mets so they’ll continue to be patient before making any rash moves.
“We’re in a spot where winning three in a row changes things in a significant direction and losing three in a row changes things in a significant direction,” Stearns said. “It’s one of the reasons we are going to be patient.“
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