Mets Need Danny Coulombe Trade to Boost World Series Odds Amid MLB Deadline Rumors

The New York Mets currently find themselves 1.5 games back in the NL East, with a struggling bullpen that has cost them games late. The latest came on Friday night, when reliever Alex Carillo replaced starter Sean Manaea after four innings and proceeded to surrender a 2-1 lead, giving up three home runs (five runs total) and leading to an 8-5 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.

The loss came on the heels of a pre-break loss in Baltimore in which reliever Ryan Stanek gave up a two-run blast to Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson en route to a 3-1 loss that spoiled a gem from All-Star David Peterson.

With injuries to José Buttó, Tylor Megill, and Paul Blackburn keeping them off the mound, the team needs to right its bullpen situation sooner rather than later. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that the team may be prepared to do that ahead of the deadline, with Twins lefty Danny Coulombe on their radar.

Coulombe has been one of the best relievers in the game this season, with a 0.65 ERA in 27.2 innings and 36 games. He has accumulated a WAR of 1.6. Best of all, he has experience lifting struggling bullpens, as evidenced by his time in Baltimore.

He was, arguably, the best and most consistent reliever in his two seasons with the Orioles, with a 2.56 ERA in 94 games and 10 strikeouts per nine innings. He has been in high-pressure situations and excelled, picking up where he left off with Minnesota this season.

A smart pitcher with a fastball velocity of 90.2 per Statcast, who gets opposing batters to chase on 41.1 percent of balls, he is a guy who could step in for the Mets immediately and improve what was, earlier in the season, one of the best bullpens in the game.

Heyman noted in his report that the team is not inclined to give up top prospects in infielder/outfielder Jett Williams or pitchers Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong, so how they get a top reliever like Coulombe may be a bit trickier.

Still, any way the team can improve a position of need amid lofty expectations that came with the signing of Juan Soto to a historic deal this offseason is one that the team absolutely must investigate and make happen.