Mets Reportedly 'Monitoring' for CF, Bullpen Help Ahead of 2025 MLB Trade Deadline

The New York Mets have reportedly decided which areas of need the club will be targeting ahead of the 2025 MLB trade deadline.

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon reported on Friday that the Mets "are monitoring the market for help in center field and the bullpen."

Rosenthal and Sammon went on to speculate that "other possible and more expensive targets such as a front-line starter may emerge."

The Mets have been rolling with Tyrone Taylor at center field since offseason acquisition Jose Siri suffered a fractured tibia in April.

Taylor has recorded five defensive runs saved through 67 games this season. He's been less productive at the plate, where he's slashed .237/.300/.348 through 219 appearances.

The Mets bullpen has meanwhile posted a 4.29 ERA through seven games in June, good for 22nd in MLB over that span.

The club might be looking for southpaw help after losing left-handed relievers A.J. Minter and Danny Young to season-ending surgeries in March.

Rosenthal and Sammon noted that the Mets are expected to "leverage their pitching-rich farm system" by offering minor league pitchers in trades.

One NL general manager told Rosenthal and Sammon that the Mets' pitching prospect depth, "especially with arms that other clubs like, makes them all the more dangerous when you add that they can probably take on money because of their owner."

The Mets' top pitching prospects according to MLB Pipeline are Brandon Sproat, Jonah Tong, Nolan McLean, Jonathan Santucci, Blade Tidwell and Nate Dohm.

The Mets currently have the highest active payroll in MLB at more than $242 million, according to Spotrac. Owner Steve Cohen could be willing to continue raising that number to outfit his club to contend this postseason.

After sitting atop the NL last week, the Mets have slipped down the standings thanks to a six-game losing streak.

How the Mets perform against the Philadelphia Phillies in a weekend series that will determine who leads the NL East could influence how urgently the front office seeks roster improvements ahead of the July 31 deadline.