The transfer window closes next Thursday, July 31, where New York Mets fans are putting pressure on their front office as the 2025 MLB trade deadline approaches. With just half a game to go against the Philadelphia Phillies in a tight National League East Division, the New Yorkers are looking for answers quickly in the face of a lack of power at the plate.
The biggest question mark has been center field with Tyrone Taylor, who has struggled at bat and the increasingly loud calls for change. Will this be the move that could decide the Mets’ season, or will they stick with what they have for the stretch run? For sports analyst David Schoenfield, he suggests that the Mets should consider bringing back former outfielder Harrison Bader to shore up the position and improve the team’s defense.
The reasons for replacing Tyrone Taylor in New York Mets center field
In 2025, according to Amazin Avenue, Taylor has made outstanding plays in center field helping to have defensive control and with good communication with Juan Soto and Brandon Nimmo, both with inferior defense. Even so, Taylor’s offensive numbers have made fans nervous. He has a .206/.261/.302 slash line and an OPS+ of 65, as Schoenfield notes.
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns did not shy away from the topic during a press conference, telling reporters: “It’s the one position where we have not reached the level of production that we probably expected at the beginning of the year,” who added that any deal has to be the right one. “We have to meet a standard that we really believe makes us better given the price,” he said. The Mets have occasionally included Jeff McNeil, but Stearns and manager Carlos Mendoza know that more consistency is needed.
The reasons for bringing Harrison Bader back to the Queens team
From his analysis, Schoenfield argues that acquiring Bader, who now plays for the Minnesota Twins, is the obvious choice. After wearing the NYM jersey in 2024, he has improved his hitting performance in 2025 with a .250/.333/.434 batting line and a .767 OPS. “He would still be an offensive upgrade over Taylor without losing anything defensively and wouldn’t cost a top prospect,” he wrote.
Bader knows the Mets, which could facilitate a quick transition. Stearns’ previous decision to sign Bader demonstrates that he values his defense and sees potential in his hitting. On the other hand, the deal would likely involve sending Taylor to Minnesota or returning him to a defensive role or on the bench, possibly as an option for late innings or for double-switch situations requiring bullpen flexibility.
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