There should be no more waiting-and-seeing from Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns. The fire sale has to begin.
The Mets are the third-worst team in the National League, entering Sunday’s series finale against the Boston Red Sox 16 games under .500 and lost in the wilderness. The blame solely belongs to Stearns. He constructed a roster too reliant on injury-prone players and reclamation projects after breaking up the core over the winter.
Now he has to gut the majority of this roster outside of the obvious: Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, Carson Benge, AJ Ewing, and Nolan McLean.
Three weeks remain until Major League Baseball’s Aug. 3 trade deadline, and Stearns should be working the phones now, because there will be an awful lot of players to move. Let’s take a look.
Freddy Peralta
Perhaps the Mets’ biggest trade chip this summer, Peralta has failed to live up to the role of ace since being acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers over the winter. On an expiring contract, Stearns should in no way go against his philosophy and dole out big money for him of all pitchers.
Clay Holmes
The Mets’ actual ace this season has been out since May after breaking his leg, but he is working toward a return before the trade deadline. Holmes told The Athletic that he would be “open” to a contract extension, but pitching-needy teams will be calling Stearns and likely offering a high price for the veteran righty. If the Mets can land a top-30 prospect from the Cubs for David Peterson, think what Holmes could yield.
AJ Minter and Brooks Raley
A pair of high-performing left-handed relievers on expiring contracts? That is the equivalent of a gold mine at the trade deadline. Both Minter and Raley have been two of the Mets’ best arms, and the return should be a healthy one.
Huascar Brazoban
While Luke Weaver could also be added here, Brazoban has been much more inconsistent during his time in New York. He is also a lot more versatile, meaning there should be plenty of interest in his services. Stearns has an opportunity to get something decent here.
Devin Williams
This should provide Stearns with an opportunity to just cut his losses. Williams’ struggles from the Bronx last year have only continued to the tune of a 4.70 ERA. Simply put, he is not a closer, and he should not be making closer money. Even if they have to eat some of his contract, it’s vital that the Mets move in a new direction.
Brett Baty
How many more opportunities can the former top prospect get to prove that he is more than a Quadruple-A player (great in Triple-A, but not good enough for the majors)? Baty’s versatility, coupled with the season’s onslaught of injuries, has made him indispensable at times, but his production simply isn’t consistent enough.
Luis Robert Jr. and Tyrone Taylor
The oft-injured center fielder is working his way back from a back injury suffered in April. The problem is that there is not a big enough job waiting for him upon his return. Carson Benge and AJ Ewing are the future, and paying the remainder of Robert’s $20 million this season for a reserve outfielder is lunacy.
Taylor, on the other hand, is the rare Met who has been a good soldier and deserves a change of scenery. Having done practically everything he’s been asked of over the last three years, he is the perfect fourth outfielder for any contender.
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