Aug 2, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Luke Weaver (30) delivers a pitch during the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
QUEENS, NY — David Stearns and the Mets were in no way concerned about preserving some of their remaining top trade targets on Sunday.
Just over 24 hours before Major League Baseball’s Monday trade deadline, interim manager Andy Green had three of his most valuable relievers, Brooks Raley, Luke Weaver, and Huascar Brazoban, pitch the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings.
“I checked in with David right before I went out to manage that game, and was told everybody was available,” Green said following the Mets’ 2-0 loss to the Miami Marlins. “Nothing changed that, so we managed the game accordingly.”
The trio combined to spin three shutout, hitless innings, with Brazoban providing the lone blemish with a two-out walk to Esteury Ruiz.
“Those guys were all healthy, rested, available, good to go,” Green said. “We felt comfortable letting them do what they do during the baseball season, which is pitch in turn when the situation calls for it.”
The Mets are in the midst of a significant sale, having parted ways with one veteran reliever already in AJ Minter, who was sent to the Minnesota Twins for a pair of prospects on Thursday. During Sunday’s loss to Miami, Stearns also completed a deal to send struggling starter Freddy Peralta to the Tampa Bay Rays for a trio of prospects.
Calls have remained steady for all three of Raley, Weaver, and Brazoban, with contending teams looking to shore up their bullpens before a final postseason push.
Raley, perhaps the most popular trade target of the three because he is a southpaw, lowered his ERA to 1.96 this season with a scoreless sixth inning that took only eight pitches to complete.
Weaver’s scoreless seventh inning extended a brilliant run in which he has allowed just one earned run in his last 30 appearances (32 innings pitched). He now has a 1.84 ERA this season.
Brazoban, perhaps the most versatile reliever in the league, has allowed one earned run over his last 10 appearances. He sparked the rumor mill into a frenzy early in Sunday’s game when he was seen giving handshakes and hugs to members of the Mets’ coaching staff in the bullpen, which is usually a sign of a player getting traded.
“All three of those guys we watched today that threw the sixth, seventh, and eighth [innings] were tremendous in that situation… They continued to prove who they are: Some of the best relievers in baseball.”
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