Mets GM on Verlander, Scherzer Trades: 'Have to Go Through a Little Pain' to Win

New York Mets general manager Billy Eppler spoke with reporters about the team's decision to undergo a comprehensive fire sale ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline, which included the trades of star pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander.

"You have to go through a little pain to get where we want to go," he said. "... Our organization is making strides for a better future."

He added that the goal was to still field a competitive team in 2024, though expectations would obviously be somewhat tempered.

"Going into 2024, we don't see ourselves having the same odds that we did in 2022, 2023—but we will field a competitive team in 2024," he noted. "Now is a time where we start to think about what opportunities can exist in the winter time, what kind of resources that we'll have at our disposal, and put our best foot forward."

The Mets went from the highest payroll in baseball history to a fire sale of epic proportions that included dealing Scherzer, Verlander, Tommy Pham, Mark Canha, David Robertson and Dominic Leone.

And while they shed salary, they still ate a ton of money on their various deals, most prominently the Scherzer and Verlander trades:

There arguably hasn't been a bigger disappointment in baseball this season (outside of perhaps San Diego) than these Mets. There's talent still in place, no doubt, led by Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso.

But the Mets are going to have a much different look in 2024 than they did coming into this season. Even Lindor expressed as much.

"I signed up here to be in a winning franchise, and they're trying to do whatever it takes to be a sustainable, winning franchise," he told reporters. "I'm on board."

The issue for the Mets is that the NL East is one of the stronger divisions in baseball. The Atlanta Braves are a powerhouse. The Miami Marlins are loaded with young talent. The Philadelphia Phillies have aggressively acquired star power around Bryce Harper and likely will continue to do so in pursuit of a title.

Yes, getting younger going forward seemed to be a need, and getting back prospects for pending free agents like Robertson, Pham, Leone and potentially Canha (he has a club option for next season) was a solid retooling effort.

But unless the Mets go right back into their heavy spending ways this upcoming winter, they probably aren't going to compete with the likes of the Braves, Marlins or Phillies, let alone the other strong teams in the National League.

Next year won't be a lost season. It just likely won't be one that extends into October, similar to this season. At least now more realistic expectations are being set.