The San Diego Padres and New York Mets have the only Wild Card series that went the distance. The Mets forced Game 3 with a Game 2 win on Saturday night behind...
For MLB fans of teams who have fallen out of the postseason race, the focus has already turned to the rapidly approaching offseason and what promises to be...
Max Scherzer, Mets Clinch 1st MLB Playoff Berth Since 2016 with Win over Brewers
Sep 20, 2022
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 17: Francisco Lindor #12 of the New York Mets celebrates with Pete Alonso #20 of the New York Mets after hitting a home run during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on August 17, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Adam Hagy/Getty Images)
One year after some of their players were mocking their own fans amid a frustrating season, the New York Mets are going to ride their good vibes this season all the way to the playoffs.
The Mets clinched a postseason berth for the first time since 2016 after Monday's 7-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers:
Since taking over as owner of the Mets in November 2020, Steve Cohen has made his mission clear.
"If I don’t win a World Series in the next three to five years—I’d like to make it sooner—I would consider that slightly disappointing," he told reporters at his introductory press conference.
The 66-year-old has since put his money where his mouth was two years ago.
The Mets traded for Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco from Cleveland in January 2021. Lindor subsequently signed the richest contract in franchise history (10 years, $341 million).
Injuries and poor performances led the Mets to a disappointing 77-85 finish in 2021, and Cohen and new general manager Billy Eppler went to work last offseason to reshape the roster again.
The Mets spent $254.5 million to sign Max Scherzer, Starling Marte, Mark Cahna and Eduardo Escobar in free agency. Scherzer's three-year, $130.1 million made him the highest-paid player in MLB by average annual salary ($43.3 million).
New York also took advantage of the Oakland Athletics' fire sale to acquire Chris Bassitt for the rotation.
Only the Los Angeles Dodgers ($265.2 million) have a higher payroll than the Mets' $262.1 million this season.
Those offseason signings, combined with return-to-form performances by Lindor, Edwin Diaz and the midseason return of Jacob deGrom from injury, have propelled the Mets to one of the best regular seasons in franchise history.
Their .631 winning percentage would be the second-best in franchise history. The 1986 team went 108-54 (.667) and went on to win the World Series.
Things haven't gone exactly according to script in Queens. Scherzer missed seven weeks early in the season with a strained oblique. Carrasco and Escobar also spent time on the injured list. J.D. Davis had a disappointing season before being traded to the San Francisco Giants on Aug. 2.
Unlike in previous years, when it seemed like things would snowball as soon as one thing went wrong, the Mets have been able to keep playing at a consistently high level this season no matter what.
Per FanGraphs' wins above replacement, the Mets rank fifth in pitching (19.6) and sixth in hitting (27.6). The only other team that ranks in the top five in both categories are the Dodgers.
Looking ahead to the postseason, New York has arguably the best 1-2 punch in the starting rotation. Scherzer is apparently an ageless wonder, as he entered Monday's start with a 2.26 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 153 strikeouts in 127.2 innings as a 38-year-old.
His latest outing was one of his best to date, as he delivered six perfect innings, while striking out nine. He was pulled after 68 pitches, as it was his first start since coming off the injured list.
The sample size for deGrom isn't large, but he has looked fantastic since making his season debut on Aug. 2. The two-time NL Cy Young winner has a 2.32 ERA with 86 strikeouts and 29 hits allowed in 54.1 innings.
Diaz has been absolutely lights out at the end of games. The two-time All-Star averages nearly two strikeouts per inning (107 in 56.2 innings) and didn't allow a run in 25 appearances from June 22-Aug. 31.
Despite having Pete Alonso, one of the best power hitters in baseball, in the middle of their lineup, the Mets aren't a power-hitting team overall. They rank tied for 15th in MLB in homers (152) but make up for it by making a lot of contact and getting on base.
New York's 1,112 strikeouts are the fourth-fewest in MLB, and it ranks second with a .331 on-base percentage. The depth of quality hitters in the lineup has the ability to wear down opposing pitchers quickly, especially in a playoff game where managers have quick hooks with their starters.
The Dodgers are still the class of the NL, and the Braves are better on paper than the team that won the World Series last year, but this Mets squad has all the ingredients to make a deep postseason run.
It's going to be hard to say goodbye to Major League Baseball's 2022 regular season when it wraps up on Oct. 2. It's been a wild one. As for exactly...
Mets' Edwin Diaz Backed by Blasterjaxx as 'Official' MLB User of 'Narco' Intro
Sep 2, 2022
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 01: Edwin Diaz #39 of the New York Mets reacts after the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citi Field on September 01, 2022 in New York City. The Mets defeated the Dodgers 5-3. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
New York Mets reliever Edwin Diaz is considered the "official" Major League Baseball user of the song "Narco" by Blasterjaxx and Timmy Trumpet, so Atlanta Braves catcher William Contreras might want to find a new walk-up song.
Idir Makhlaf, one of the two members of Blasterjaxx, told MLB Network last week that the Dutch duo endorses Diaz's use of the song when he runs out of the bullpen and onto the Citi Field diamond.
"For us, Edwin is the official one, that's for sure," Makhlaf said, per Peter Botte of the New York Post. "You can't have more, right? That's impossible. You have to choose your own song."
Makhlaf's statement was noteworthy considering Contreras has used "Narco" as a walk-up song throughout the 2022 season, much to the dismay of Mets fans.
"Narco" has become a fan favorite in Queens, and Timmy Trumpet attended two Mets games this week to play his part of the song live as Diaz came out of the bullpen:
Per the Post, Blasterjaxx is trying to secure visas to travel to the United States, perhaps during the MLB postseason. If the duo can play the viral hit alongside Timmy Trumpet at a Mets game, it will be one of the best moments in baseball.
Diaz is one of the top relievers in MLB. He has 29 saves with a 1.52 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 101 strikeouts in 53.1 innings across 53 appearances.
MLB Rumors: Mets' Edwin Diaz Could Be 1st Closer to Sign $100M Contract
Sep 1, 2022
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 31: Edwin Diaz #39 of the New York Mets reacts after the final out of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citi Field on August 31, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz has established himself as one of the best relievers in MLB, and he reportedly will get paid as such after this season.
ESPN's Jeff Passan said on The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday that Diaz's performance could earn him the first nine-figure contract for a closer in MLB history.
"This was a guy who got traded to the Mets for Jarred Kelenic a couple years ago, it looked like a complete disaster of a deal," Passan said. "But this is his free-agent year right now, and he's been the best reliever in baseball. And he's gonna go out and he may this offseason become the first 100-million-dollar closer."
Diaz is in a three-way tie for fourth in the majors with 29 saves this season. Through 52 appearances, the right-hander has a 1.38 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP with 100 strikeouts in 52.1 innings pitched. It's his first time reaching 100 strikeouts since his career-high 124 in 2018, which was his last season with the Seattle Mariners.
Amid Diaz's stellar performance on the mound, he's grown into a fan favorite because of his entrance music. The Mets hosted artist Timmy Trumpet to perform the song live as Diaz entered Wednesday's game to close out a win over the Los Angeles Dodgers:
Passan explained that Diaz's growing popularity is making him a marketable star who can draw in more fans who just want to see him lock down the final inning.
"I think part of it [is] when you factor in, if you're a baseball team, the idea that you can market your closer, that you can market the ninth inning as something that everybody wants to watch," Passan said. "I want someone to come up with an app that says, 'The closer is coming in right now, I want to watch him shove for one inning.'"
With Diaz at the back end of their bullpen, the Mets (83-48) are expected to make a strong run this postseason. They haven't been in the playoffs since 2016, which was one year after they lost to the Kansas City Royals in the World Series.
Who Ya Got? Are the Dodgers or Mets the NL's Best Team?
Zachary D. Rymer
Aug 30, 2022
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 02: Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Brandon Nimmo #9 of the New York Mets look on during a call review during the fifth inning at Dodger Stadium on June 02, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
There will be no Davids on the diamond as the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets meet for a three-game set at Citi Field over the next three days. Just Goliaths.
Question is: Which is the bigger, badder Goliath?
The easy answer can be adequately summed up as, "It's the Dodgers, stupid." They've been next to unbeatable as they've won 44 of 54 since June 29. Their 89-38 record has them on pace to win 114 games, while their plus-286 run differential gives them a shot to become only the 10th modern team to finish at or above the plus-300 threshold.
Yet the Mets have already shown they can go toe-to-toe with the Dodgers, splitting a four-game series in Los Angeles in early June. They've also done a better job than most of hanging with the Boys in Blue. As the Dodgers have gone 33-8 since July 13, the Mets have gone 28-13.
Though the Mets remain eight games off the Dodgers' pace for the National League's top record—and with it, home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs—the two clubs have essentially equal odds of making a deep run through the postseason. FanGraphs puts the Dodgers' and Mets' World Series chances at 29.4 and 27.3.
In other words, a proper comparison of the Dodgers and Mets can't simply begin and end with their records.
Comparing the Offenses
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 06: Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates his run from a Freddie Freeman #5 sacrifice fly, for a 6-3 lead over the San Diego Padres, during the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium on August 06, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
If we had access to a time machine, we wouldn't have to go back that far to find the right environment for a spirited debate about the Dodgers and Mets offenses. As recently as June 26, the teams were separated by all of one run scored.
Things have changed since then, however, as the Dodgers have opened a 79-run advantage over their counterparts from Queens.
The Dodgers bats have been especially hot since the All-Star break, collectively rating as 34 percent better than average by wRC+. They've also scored 224 runs (or 6.1 per game) and slammed 52 home runs over their 37 games.
Mookie Betts is responsible for 11 of the latter, and Freddie Freeman and Trea Turner aren't alone in joining him in hotness. Of 11 other players with at least 45 plate appearances, only Chris Taylor (69) and Cody Bellinger (94) don't have a wRC+ over 100.
In all fairness, Mets hitters are averaging 4.7 runs per game this season and have likewise gone off for a 122 wRC+ in the second half. Jeff McNeil is hitting .366 since the break, while Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso have a 146 wRC+ and 12 home runs between them.
All the same, good in a vacuum and good in comparison to the Dodgers are two very different things in the context of this discussion.
It's also not as if the Dodgers offense has any exhaust port-like weaknesses right now. Its power may stand out the most from the second-half run, but its .303 average with runners in scoring position (3rd in MLB) and .210 average in two-strike counts (1st in MLB) are not to be overlooked.
Advantage: Dodgers
Comparing the Defenses
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 06: Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers makes a diving attempt to catch a ball off the bat of Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres during the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium on August 06, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
What's the best way to quantify a team's defense? Answers will vary, but the most straightforward is assessing how efficient said team is at turning balls in play into outs.
To that end, it's not much of a contest:
Dodgers: .728 (1st in MLB)
Mets: .693 (19th in MLB)
The Mets fare better in other metrics, including outs above average. They're at plus-nine to the Dodgers' zero, and there's no overstating just how good Lindor and McNeil have been as a double play combination lately. They've combined for 10 OAA in August alone.
The Dodgers, though, have the best defensive player on either side.
That's Betts, who's gunning for his sixth Gold Glove Award by way of five outs above average and 13 defensive runs saved. The team as a whole is a major standout for the latter, as its 74 DRS put it 18 ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals for tops in the NL.
One thing the Dodgers do is shift better than most. By FanGraphs' estimation, opposing teams hit just .262 against them when they have a shift on, the lowest such mark in the NL.
Advantage: Dodgers
Comparing the Starting Rotations
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 04: Jacob deGrom #48 (L) and Max Scherzer #21 of the New York Mets look on from the dugout during a game against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field on August 04, 2022 in New York City. The Mets defeated the Braves 6-4. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
As a unit, Dodgers starters have been nothing short of scintillating. Their 2.67 ERA is the best in baseball by 40 points over the Houston Astros, and they're the only team with four starters with ERAs under 3.00.
Though Dustin May is not among that foursome, the stuff he's shown in two starts since his return from Tommy John surgery has been filthy:
Yet even despite May's triumphant return, "healthy" isn't the first word anyone's going to associate with the Dodgers rotation.
Walker Buehler underwent his second Tommy John surgery last Tuesday, and the Dodgers are also missing fellow aces Clayton Kershaw (back) and, as of Monday, NL ERA leader Tony Gonsolin. The latter has a strained forearm that's reportedly going to cost him only two starts, though that seems optimistic.
The Mets, meanwhile, got a huge piece back Aug. 2 when Jacob deGrom made his season debut after a prolonged recovery from shoulder issues. The two-time Cy Young Award winner has looked like his usual self as he's fired triple-digit fastballs and mid-90s sliders:
Jacob deGrom, Filthy 93mph Slider and 100mph Fastball combo. 😷
[I would've called a TKO & ended the AB after that Slider]
With Scherzer and Chris Bassitt also dominating of late, the Mets' three best starters have combined for a 2.14 ERA since deGrom's return. There doesn't figure to be much of a drop-off after them going forward, as Taijuan Walker has allowed no more than three runs in 12 of his last 13 outings and Carlos Carrasco is due back from a strained oblique in early September.
Though Kershaw should also be back in early September, FanGraphs' projections for the remainder of the season aren't as bullish on the Dodgers rotation as they are on the Mets'. The latter is slated for 3.6 WAR, compared to 2.9 WAR for the former.
Advantage: Mets
Comparing the Bullpens
PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 21: Closer Edwin Diaz #39 of the New York Mets delivers a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during a game at Citizens Bank Park on August 21, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Mets defeated the Phillies 10-9. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
To some extent, relief pitching is another area in which the Dodgers only seem to be getting stronger. Their bullpen has a 3.08 ERA for the season and a 2.64 ERA in the second half.
But even though Mets relievers are at 3.63 and 4.11, the rest-of-season WAR projections for these two units are the same:
Dodgers: 0.9 WAR
Mets: 0.9 WAR
This projection arguably doesn't track with the present and near-future of the Dodgers bullpen. The fivesome of Evan Phillips, David Price, Alex Vesia, Caleb Ferguson and Chris Martin has combined for a 1.37 ERA in the second half. They also last week got flame-throwing right-hander Brusdar Graterol off the injured list, with Blake Treinen and Tommy Kahnle to follow.
There is, however, the Craig Kimbrel question.
Though Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has kept chucking save opportunities at Kimbrel, the veteran right-hander has too frequently made things interesting with a 4.14 ERA. He had a golden chance to make a statement Monday against the Miami Marlins, but he couldn't get through the 10th after pitching a perfect ninth.
The Mets have no such worries with their closer. Edwin Díaz has allowed only eight earned runs through 51.1 innings and struck out 99 of the 198 batters he's faced. His fastball and slider have simply never been nastier:
The bridge to Díaz looked shaky for a while but not so much now that Adam Ottavino and Seth Lugo have started shoving. In the second half, the three right-handers have combined for a 1.18 ERA with 62 strikeouts over 45.2 innings.
More so than the other three categories, this one feels like an apples to oranges comparison. But while we will hear arguments in favor of the quantity the Dodgers have in their pen, the quality of the Mets pen strikes us as more appealing.
Advantage: Mets
The Final Verdict (with a Hedge)
Los Angeles, California August 22, 2022-Dodgers shortstop Trea Turner, right, sits in the dugout with teammates at dodger Stadium. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
So then, who's the bigger, badder Goliath?
Right now, it's the Dodgers. Obviously, it's the Dodgers.
As much as we prefer the Mets rotation and bullpen, the gaps there aren't as large as the ones in favor of the Dodgers offense and defense. It's as if there are good reasons that they remain on track for one of the greatest seasons in the history of Major League Baseball.
The Dodgers would also figure to have a substantial advantage over the Mets if this week's series proves to be a National League Championship Series preview. Unless they cede the top spot in the NL to the Mets down the stretch, they'd maintain home-field advantage at Dodger Stadium, where they've been beaten only 16 times in 61 games all season.
But now for a last-minute hedge: We're not about to write off the Mets' chances of being the last NL team standing, and neither should anyone else.
Even relative to the Dodgers, Cardinals and Atlanta, one thing that makes the Mets stand out from a small crowd of elite teams is how battle-tested they are. They have 37 victories against winning teams, whereas no other NL club has more than 30.
These Mets can also take it from the 2019 Washington Nationals that all a team really needs to keep opponents at bay in the playoffs is a handful of untouchable pitchers. deGrom and Scherzer can be for the Mets what Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg were for the Nats, who didn't even have a Díaz in their bullpen.
In any case, baseball deserves better than for this week's series to be the last time the Dodgers and Mets meet in 2022. Somewhere between four and seven more games sounds about right to decide which is the better team.
Breaking Down Yankees, Mets Trade Rumors and Needs Ahead of 2022 Deadline
Zachary D. Rymer
Jul 27, 2022
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 26: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees reacts after hitting a home run during the first inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on July 26, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
It's always a big deal whenever the New York Yankees and New York Mets meet for the Subway Series. And with both clubs in first place in their respective divisions, even more so for the latest iteration that got underway Tuesday.
Now, just imagine how much of a bigger deal the next Subway Series (Aug. 22-23) will be if the Yankees and Mets use Major League Baseball's Aug. 2 trade deadline to try to steer themselves back toward the dominant tracks they had been on earlier in 2022.
The Yankees seemed unstoppable when they got off to a 49-16 start that had themon pace for a 120-win season. Since June 19, however, they've returned to earth with a 17-16 stretch. They still lead the American League East, but their advantage over the Houston Astros for the AL's top record has dwindled to just two games.
The Mets, meanwhile, are 25-20 since peaking at 35-17 on June 1. They're now clinging to first place in the National League East, where Atlanta is just two games off the pace.
Some good news for both clubs is that neither has seen its World Series odds take a dive. On the contrary, FanGraphs gives the Mets a 14.5 percent chance and the Yankees a 13.1 percent chance of winning it all. For the Yankees, such an outcome would mean their first championship since 2009. For the Mets, since 1986.
But since both the Yankees and Mets must first focus on making upgrades on the trade market, here's a look at what each team needs and the ideal fits for those needs.
3 Trade Needs for the Yankees
New York Yankees relief pitcher Michael King, center, is tended to by a trainer during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Friday, July 22, 2022, in Baltimore. King left the game with an injury. New York Yankees catcher Jose Trevino is at left. The Yankees won 7-6. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
1. Relief Pitcher
You'd never know it from looking at the 2.94 ERA that they've gotten out of their relievers, but the Yankees do indeed need help in the bullpen.
Chalk it up to poor seasons by Aroldis Chapman and Jonathan Loaisiga, and even more so to injuries. Left-hander Zack Britton and right-hander Chad Green are both recovering from Tommy John surgery, and now the bridge to All-Star closer Clay Holmes is even more unstable after breakout righty Michael King fractured his elbow last Friday.
"We'll continue to assess the roster, but King is a really important member of our bullpen," general manager Brian Cashman told reporters. "Ultimately, I've got from now until Aug. 2."
Ideal Target:David Robertson, Chicago Cubs
After making all of 19 appearances between 2019 and 2021, the former Yankee has found new life with a 1.83 ERA and 14 saves through 35 appearances this season. Not bad for a 37-year-old, and he's only making $3.5 million on a one-year deal.
2. Outfielder
The Yankees rank third in the majors with the 7.2 rWAR that they've gotten out of their outfielders. But 5.1 of that belongs to Aaron Judge, who's otherwise chasing Roger Maris' 61 home runs from 1961 with 38 bombs through 95 games.
Meanwhile, fellow slugger Giancarlo Stanton (Achilles tendinitis) is now on the injured list, and Joey Gallo remains in a deep, deep slump. The Yankees thus need an outfielder even more than they did on July 1, when Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported the team was scanning the market for reinforcements.
Ideal Target:Juan Soto, Washington Nationals
What, you thought we were going to say Andrew Benintendi? No way. Even setting aside that his vaccination status makes him ineligible for games in Canada, Benintendi's merits simply don't include a .426 OBP or 118 home runs before his 24th birthday.
3. Starting Pitcher
Gerrit Cole is on the periphery of the AL Cy Young Award race, and New York's rotation has broadly been just fine to the tune of a 3.31 ERA.
Less broadly, Luis Severino is on the shelf with a strained lat, and Jameson Taillon and Jordan Montgomery have a 5.85 ERA dating back to June 19. It's not quite an emergency situation, perhaps, but it's nothing if not a good excuse to upgrade.
Ideal Target: Luis Castillo, Cincinnati Reds
Trade rumors connecting the Yankees to Castillo have been a seemingly daily feature over the last couple of years. So it goes once again this season, wherein the two-time All-Star has been excellent as he's pitched to a 2.77 ERA over 78 innings.
3 Trade Needs for the Mets
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 12: Manager Buck Showalter (11) of the New York Mets relieves Seth Lugo (67) of the New York Mets of his pitching duties during the Tuesday evening MLB game between division rivals the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets on July 12, 2022 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
1. Catcher
The Mets signed James McCann during the winter of 2020-21 in hopes that he would be their stalwart behind the plate, but he had a down year in '21 and hasn't been able to stay off the IL in 2022. The Mets have felt the effects, as their minus-0.5 rWAR out of the catching position ranks dead last among NL clubs.
There will hopefully come a day when Francisco Alvarez, MLB.com's No. 1 prospect, will be the Mets' franchise catcher. But given that he's just 20 years old and only a recent arrival to Triple-A Syracuse, that day likely won't come in 2022.
Ideal Target: Willson Contreras, Chicago Cubs
This is something the Mets have already determined for themselves, as Pat Ragazzo of SI.com reports they're in on both Contreras and Robertson:
Sources: Mets and Cubs have been discussing a potential trade package that would send Willson Contreras and David Robertson to NY for multiple prospects (Not named Alvarez or Baty)
Talks are ongoing, packages still being discussed as of late last weekendhttps://t.co/Ef247mvW4M
Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, there is some concern about Contreras "meshing with a new pitching staff on the fly" following a trade. But in light of how little their catchers have produced, the Mets have a better excuse than most to not worry about that.
2. Slugger
Is this too vague? Perhaps, but we think it accurately describes the other big need in the Mets lineup. Of its 95 home runs for the season, 25 belong to Pete Alonso.
The Mets did take a step toward solving their power needs when they acquired the left-handed-hitting Daniel Vogelbach from the Pittsburgh Pirates last Friday. As 55 of his 61 career homers have come against righties, he's a good platoon option at designated hitter.
Ideal Target:J.D. Martinez, Boston Red Sox
Though the Mets could potentially fill their need for a right-handed component of said platoon with a Trey Mancini or a Nelson Cruz, neither boasts Martinez's .299/.367/.477 slash line. He's also especially dangerous (1.051 OPS) against southpaws, so it's no great surprise that the Mets have him on their radar.
3. Relief Pitcher
The Mets have a hole in their rotation right now, but they're due to fill that in-house once some guy named Jacob deGrom (shoulder) is ready to go. That should be shortly after the trade deadline.
Though the Mets also stand to get Trevor May (stress reaction in arm) back soon, they should be less willing to let it roll with the relievers they already have. Veteran closer Edwin Diaz has been scintillating all season, yet the bridge to him lacks a true shutdown setup man.
Ideal Target:David Robertson, Chicago Cubs
Once again, the Mets already have this figured out. One catch is that Robertson has mostly worked in the ninth inning this season, but one assumes he would be fine in the eighth. If he could set up for Mariano Rivera, then he can probably do the same for Diaz.
The Yankees' and Mets' Top Trade Chips
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 16: Jasson Dominguez #12 of the New York Yankees watches the flight of his two-run home run in the third inning during the 2022 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, July 16, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
In Gallo and Miguel Andujar, the Yankees have two intriguing change-of-scenery candidates among their wares.
Yet neither player is much more than a throw-in in any potential trade, so now's a good time to get acquainted with the Tier 1 prospects in the Yankees' farm system:
SS Anthony Volpe (21 years old): .807 OPS, 13 HR, 35 SB at AA
OF Jasson Dominguez (19): .828 OPS, 10 HR, 21 SB at A/A+
SS Oswald Peraza (22): .762 OPS, 12 HR, 23 SB at AAA
LHP Ken Waldichuk (24): 2.44 ERA, 106 K, 29 BB at AA/AAA
C Austin Wells (23): .897 OPS, 9 HR, 9 SB at A/A+/AA
One of those two shortstops—more likely Peraza—could be expendable in a blockbuster, though the single loudest tool here might be Dominguez's power:
The Mets also have an appealing change-of-scenery candidate in Dominic Smith. They're otherwise short on expendable major leaguers, so here's their list of Tier 1 prospects:
C Francisco Alvarez (20 years old): .885 OPS, 19 HR, 0 SB at AA/AAA
3B Brett Baty (22): .878 OPS, 13 HR, 1 SB at AA
C Kevin Parada (20): No. 11 pick in 2022 draft
OF Alex Ramirez (19): .813 OPS, 8 HR, 19 SB at A/A+
One caveat here is that Alvarez may be so valuable as to be untouchable, with another being that the Mets can't yet trade Parada. The "Trea Turner rule," as it's known, requires teams to hold on to their most recent draft picks until after the World Series.
As such, Baty may be the club's top trade chip. He is indeed a good one, though, as he's seen as having plus tools in both the hit and power categories.
Which Team Has the Better Shot at Juan Soto?
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 18: National League All-Star Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals reacts while competing during the 2022 T-Mobile Home Run Derby at Dodger Stadium on July 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
It would be more reasonable to dedicate a section to whether the Yankees or Mets have the better shot at Robertson. Reasonable, sure...but not particularly fun.
Not as fun as the Soto question, anyway. Heyman quickly tabbed the Yankees and Mets as fits for the wunderkind slugger as soon as he hit the market, and now we know what he's going to cost courtesy of Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic:
What's the Nationals asking price for Juan Soto? @Ken_Rosenthal reports that it will take 4 to 5 top young players (combo of prospects and major leaguers with low service time) to potentially land the superstar pic.twitter.com/fefj20gO7P
Quantity-wise, the Yankees have the edge in desirable prospects and could potentially sweeten the deal for the Nationals by including Gleyber Torres. Because of Alvarez, however, one could make the case that the Mets have an edge quality-wise.
But even if such things make the Yankees and Mets roughly equal fits for Soto on paper, "the field" might be the best bet for his eventual landing spot.
Another report from Heyman on July 21 stated that neither club would give in if the Nationals insisted on getting all three of its top prospects. And because they share the NL East with the Nationals, the Mets would face a whole 'nother kind of hurdle in trying to pry Soto loose.
Predicting One Trade for the Yankees
KANSAS CITY, MO - JUNE 04: Andrew Benintendi #16 of the Kansas City Royals bats against the Houston Astros during the sixth inning at Kauffman Stadium on June 4, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images)
The Deal: New York Yankees get LF Andrew Benintendi and RHP Scott Barlow; Kansas City Royals get LHP Ken Waldichuk
Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported that the Yankees are indeed interested in Benintendi:
The Yankees have emerged as “serious contenders” for Royals LF Andrew Benintendi, per source.
He's not as exciting as Soto, but Benintendi is a sensible target for the Yankees. They frankly need an OBP-tuned hitter among all their SLG monsters. And while his vaccination status could be an issue come October, for now the Yankees only have three more regular-season games north of the border against the Toronto Blue Jays.
As for Barlow, he's a reliever with a 1.93 ERA and club control through 2024. What's more, he likely hasn't achieved his full potential as a strikeout artist.
Predicting One Trade for the Mets
DENVER, CO - JUNE 02: C.J. Cron #25 of the Colorado Rockies hits a home run during the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Coors Field on June 2, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Ethan Mito/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images)
The Deal: New York Mets get 1B C.J. Cron and RHP Daniel Bard; Colorado Rockies get 3B/1B Mark Vientos and RHP Mike Vasil
It would be too easy to simply assume that the proposed Contreras/Robertson deal will get done, so we're zigging with a hypothetical trade with the Colorado Rockies instead.
The Mets do like the right-handed-hitting Cron, according to Andy Martino of SNY. And while Bard isn't quite as appealing as Robertson, he does have a similar profile as a 37-year-old veteran with closer-caliber stuff.
