Mets Need To Perfect Delicate Balancing Act When Seeking Starting Pitching
New York needs to upgrade its rotation and there are several attractive options out there. However, the ballclub should consider all options before going all in on a flashy name...
The New York Mets face a daunting task over the next several hours or so.
In need of a starting pitcher, the front office have to find the perfect balance between doing what is right in the now, while also trying not to destroy the seeds that have been planted for the future.
In case you aren’t aware, the last few days have been wild even by the Mets’ own very chaotically high standards. They wiped out a 10 game deficit to overtake the Braves for the first Wild Card spot in the National League on Friday, only to drop back to the third Wild Card spot after two no-shows against Atlanta on Saturday and Sunday. In between all of that, New York also lost its ace for the year after Kodai Senga sustained a calf strain in just his first game back from a right shoulder capsule strain that had sidelined him for the first 102 games of the year.
That isn’t the end of the Mets’ rotation woes, however. Rookie Christian Scott is battling a with sprained UCL and, if rest proves not to be the cure, then Tommy John Surgery could be required. Luis Severino has already pitched over 120 innings this year - the most innings he’s pitched since the 2018 season - meaning he’ll need to be carefully managed the rest of the way. José Quintana has been up and down all year, but mostly down. Sean Manaea hasn’t been great and has allowed 10 earned runs in his last three outings. And both Tylor Megill and David Peterson have proven that they can’t be relied upon. Now, there is an internal option in José Buttó, but he’s become too valuable a piece out of the bullpen.
Therefore, the Mets need to add another starter with time ticking. They also need more bullpen help, even after acquiring Ryne Stanek, who didn’t exactly make a great first impression after allowing three runs on two homers in his Mets debut on Sunday.
However, with the demand and the price for starting pitching skyscraper high, not to mention that names are coming off the board by the hour, New York president of baseball operations David Stearns must walk a delicate path. His team deserve help after playing themselves into playoff contention despite emerging from the month of May as one of the worst teams in baseball. But, on the flipside of that, Stearns is clearly putting in place a long-term vision and that plan can’t be jeopardized.
Stearns has already supported the players currently in the lockeroom by going out and acquiring Phil Maton and then Stanek to bolster the bullpen, in addition to adding outfielder Jesse Winker, who is a clear overall upgrade on DJ Stewart.
We’ll now see what he can accomplish on the starter front. There are tantalizing options out there, but they are dwindling by the minute. Erick Fedde, who was 7-4 with a 3.11 ERA for the White Sox this year, was dealt to the Cardinals on Monday along with former Met outfielder Tommy Pham. Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Yankees are engaged in extensive talks for Tigers starter Jack Flaherty, taking another option off the table. The Astros sent an absolute haul, including their No. 9 and No. 13 prospects, to the Blue Jays for 33-year-old RHP Yusei Kikuchi, who is 4-9 with a 4.75 ERA this year. That deal alone could arguably ramp up the price for other starters on Tuesday.
Now, there is some scuttlebutt out there that suggests Blake Snell could be an option. The two-time Cy Young winner has begun to turn it around for the Giants, allowing just two earned runs on eight hits while walking seven and striking out 30 over his last four starts with a stellar 0.75 ERA. However, he has also stunk for the majority of the year and is owed a lot of money. The Mets would likely need to eat most of that money, including a $30 million player option in 2025, or send a boatload of prospects back to the Giants in order to acquire Snell. Plus, according to Nightengale, the Giants enter Tuesday inclined to keep Snell having moved Jorge Soler and his contract to the Braves on Monday. As such, that could be another starter off the market.
There are two other big names out there in Tigers star Tarik Skubal and White Sox stud Garrett Crochet. I don’t think Skubal will actually be moved, and I think Detroit would be crazy to deal their ace. When you have an elite arm in Skubal, you build around him and surround him with talent. However, it does sound like Crochet is likely to be moved today. He would command a huge return and the Mets would have to give up a boatload of prospect capital in order to make that kind of big swing.
I do see the merit in going for it today. After all, the Mets are firmly in the mix for a Wild Card spot and they have shown since May that they are a legitimate team that can blow teams away with their offense. If they bolster their bullpen and strengthen the rotation, they could be a real threat to most teams in October. So, going by that logic, I can fully understand those who would advocate for the front office to make a huge swing-for-the-fences type move in acquiring a big-time starting pitcher to try and help this team win now.
However, there is clearly a long-term plan in place and owner Steve Cohen has always spoken about the importance of having a strong farm system, which is why he made Stearns his number one target to run the baseball operations at Citi Field. Stearns has built his entire career on acquiring and developing young talent, especially young elite arms. I think there is a pathway for the Mets to add a starter that can help them improve in the now without raiding the farm system too much.
Cubs RHP Jameson Taillon is 7-6 with a 3.35 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 104.2 innings pitched this year. He has a 1.166 WHIP and can go long in games, something the Mets really need. The downside is that Taillon has struggled as of late, allowing 14 earned runs in his last five starts and six in his last outing. But, overlooking that, Taillon’s track record is there for all to see and he’s pitched in New York before having spent two years with the Yankees. He knows what it takes to pitch in a big market and he would be a solid addition to that rotation. The other upside to Taillon is that he’s under team control through the 2026 season, so he would help now and in the future.
It is important to note, however, that Taillon himself revealed on Monday that he has not yet been approached about a trade by Chicago. And, given the Cubs want to contend in 2025, keeping Taillon around may make more sense than trading him.
Alternatively, a reunion with Chris Bassitt could be an attractive option for the Mets. Bassitt is an absolute workhorse and he has pitched for the Mets before, so there wouldn’t be a long adjustment period and, like Taillon, he has shown he’s comfortable pitching in New York. Now, there is some question as to whether or not Bassitt would want to return to the Mets given that he declined his option in 2023 in order to become a free agent. However, if the past wasn’t an issue, the veteran would be an upgrade. He is 8-9 with a 3.78 ERA this year with a 1.412 WHIP and 112 strikeouts in 119 innings pitched. He can eat innings for fun and would help to shore up the backend of that Mets rotation.
Tyler Anderson of the Angels could be another starter that won’t cost a whole lot. He owns a 2.96 ERA this year and is under team control through the 2025 season. He can go deep in games and made the All-Star team this year, but some of the underlying metrics are concerning.
Finally, if he’s available, I would make a real run at Rangers veteran Nathan Eovaldi. The 34-year-old is 8-4 with a 3.38 ERA this year with 106 strikeouts in 112 innings. He’s pitched six or more innings in seven of his last eight starts, including going a full seven innings in five of those outings. More importantly, Eovaldi is a proven performer in the postseason with a career 3.05 ERA in the playoffs. He was money for the Rangers as they won the World Series last year, and that postseason experience and ability to grind through innings and come up big on the biggest stage would really help the Mets down the stretch and in October.
Overall, I’m all on board with the Mets needing to acquire a starter on Tuesday, and I can understand the desire to go big fish hunting for a legit star. However, I also think there are a slew of solid options available that could still do a really good job for a lot less of a price than say a Snell or a Crochet.
We’ll see what happens between now and 6 P.M. EDT.