MLB Rumors: Mets Expected to Address Bullpen in Trade Market Ahead of Deadline

The New York Mets are expected to make another move to bolster their bullpen before July 30 after trading for relief pitcher Phil Maton, according to ESPN's Jorge Castillo.

But Castillo referenced comments made earlier this week by Mets star Pete Alonso when concluding that the team's decision will ultimately hinge on their record leading up to the trade deadline.

"The expectation around baseball is that the New York Mets will attempt to continue bolstering a lackluster bullpen running on fumes after acquiring Phil Maton last week," Castillo wrote. "But that could depend on how the club performs over the next two weeks -- at least that's the impression Pete Alonso, a free agent this winter, communicated this week.

"The Mets' only All-Star insisted he doesn't believe the team has convinced the front office that they're playoff contenders despite surging into the third and final wild-card spot. The next two weeks before the deadline, he emphasized, are crucial. It's difficult to believe that the Mets will subtract at this point, but Alonso's point of view cannot be ignored."

Alonso, who has helped drive the Mets to a 25-13 record since the beginning of June, said earlier this week that the Mets have "got to earn the right to be buyers" at the deadline, per Mark W. Sanchez of the New York Post.

"I think, honestly, we've done such a great job, we've been super resilient, but we have a really important next two weeks," Alonso told the New York Post. "There's a lot of games left, and we've got to earn to be buyers. I think for us, it's a really critical point. And I'd love for us to come back and absolutely kill it."

Alonso, who is currently set to become an unrestricted free agent this fall, once again became the focus of trade rumors in early June when the Mets fell 11 games under .500.

The team's performance since then has lifted New York into the third Wild Card spot in the NL and raised the possibility that the Mets should be looking to bolster their roster around Alonso rather than moving him.

The Mets have seen some key relievers struggle to find consistency through the first half of the season in Jake Diekman, who has posted a 5.53 ERA through 39 appearances and 27.2 innings pitched, and Edwin Diaz, who has a 4.05 ERA through 27 appearances and 26.2 innings pitched.

Those struggles, in addition to season-ending injuries to Drew Smith and Brooks Raley, have left the team's bullpen depth dangerously thin.

The team could be set to gain an instant boost to pitching depth with the anticipated return from injury of 2023 NL Rookie of the Year runner-up Kodai Senga.

But the Mets may need some outside help in order to make their bullpen postseason-ready. Heading into Friday the Mets' bullpen had posted a 7.49 ERA since July 1, good for 30th in the MLB.

If the Mets decide to seek relievers on the trade market, the team could use its deeper pool of starters to put together an attractive offer, as Jon Heyman and Mike Puma previously reported for the New York Post.

"Jose Butto, Christian Scott and [Tyler] Megill are extras now, meaning vets like Sean Manaea, Jose Quintana or even Luis Severino could hit the market," Heyman wrote at the end of June.

Whether players like Manaea, Quintana or Severino hit the trade block could depend on how well Alonso and the Mets perform against the Miami Marlins, New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves and Minnesota Twins over this final stretch before the deadline.