The feeling behind the New York team’s sparse reinforcements is that they are insufficient to face the second half of the season and especially a hypothetical playoffs, even more so considering the high expectations of the fans for the current season.
However, David Stearns, president of baseball operations for the New York Mets, offered his assessment after the 2025 MLB trade deadline and said he was pleased with the moves made by the organization.
Stearns argued that despite not getting a starter for his rotation, the team did manage to achieve two of its three main goals: to strengthen the bullpen and add a new center fielder.
How did the New York Mets get stronger?
The most notable move was the acquisition of Cedric Mullins, a center fielder from the Baltimore Orioles
To get him, the Mets gave up three prospects: Raimon Gomez, Chandler Marsh and Anthony Nunez, the latter ranked as the No. 14 prospect in the system, according to MLB Pipeline.
Mullins arrives with a .229 batting average, 15 home runs and 14 stolen bases in 91 games this season, in addition to standing out defensively with two outs above average.
“We like what Cedric brings on both sides of the game,”Stearns said in a video call. “He can impact games in ways that don’t always show up in the stats.”
With his arrival, Jeff McNeil will be able to return to his usual position at second base, although he will still have opportunities as a designated hitter or in the outfield.
Mets bullpen reinforcements
Prior to the trade deadline, the Mets also strengthened their bullpen. They acquired Tyler Rogers from the Giants and Ryan Helsley from the Cardinals, as well as completing a trade with the Orioles for left-hander Gregory Soto days earlier. These arms join a bullpen that has been key to the team’s performance during the season.
However, no additions were made to the starting rotation. Names such as Sandy Alcantara, Mitch Keller, Zac Gallen and Joe Ryan were rumored, but were not traded. Nevertheless, Stearns is confident in what he already has and what is coming from below.
“We’re happy with the arms we acquired for the bullpen and with the development of our prospects,” Stearns said. “There are many ways to build a pitching staff, and we chose to strengthen the bullpen.”
Clay Holmes has been the weakest link in the rotation, especially because of his difficulty in pitching multiple innings, but the team continues to bet on his evolution as a starter, after having been a reliever.
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