Mets’ Trade Deadline Plan Revealed by President David Stearns

If someone said in May that the New York Mets would be buyers at this year’s MLB trade deadline, they’d be called crazy.

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The Mets endured a horrendous start to the year, one that saw them living at 10 games under .500. On June 3, the Mets were 11 games under .500 at 24-35 and appeared well on their way to being sellers at this year’s MLB trade deadline.

However, in the span of two months, they’ve completely turned their season around (just as we at Newsweek Sports predicted).

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The Mets sit at 44-45 in the final week before the All-Star break, just 2.5 games back of the San Diego Padres for the third and final Wild Card spot in the National League. They went 16-8 in June and are 4-4 to start July, and could go either way at this year’s trade deadline.

It would make sense for them to trade some pieces, especially expiring contracts, to recoup some assets. But at the same time, the Wild Card race is wide open — and as the Arizona Diamondbacks proved last year, you just need to get in to have a chance.

So, what will the Mets do?

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns recently spoke to the New York Post, and made it clear that the team was targeting relievers as they look to buy before the July 30 deadline.

“Certainly, this is an area of the team we’re going to continue to monitor,” Stearns said to The Post.

Moreover, barring a July collapse, superstar first baseman Pete Alonso likely won’t be going anywhere for the second half of this season before he hits free agency.

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale added on Alonso: “Rival teams who have expressed interest in New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso are convinced Alonso will definitely stay put as long as the Mets are within five games of the wild-card race.”

Alonso, who was once considered one of the top potential trade targets at this year’s deadline, now appears ready to help the Mets earn a postseason spot in 2024. Then, he’ll enter free agency, where the Mets will surely be in the market to bring him back.

The next few weeks will be crucial for the Mets to decide how the second half of their season will go. But if they continue to play like they did in June and the first week of July, expect the Mets to bring in some new faces before August — ones that will only look to aid a postseason push in Queens.