☀️ GOOD MORNING:
27 outs.
That’s the magic number.
No matter how much the game has changed over the years, from eliminating the shift, adding pitch clocks to chasing ghost runners, one thing remains constant:
You still need 27 outs to win.
The Mets added two relievers on Wednesday who should go a long way in securing several of those outs, particularly in the most important games in October.
Less than a year after being eliminated by a Dodgers team that relied heavily on their bullpen to make up for a decimated rotation, David Stearns is engineering the largest bridge project these parts have seen since the construction of the Whitestone. A bridge that is fully capable of spanning from a shortened start to the final out.
If it works, the price is worth it.
If it doesn’t, it’s still a gamble worth taking.
While the Mets were being swept by the Padres, their starter exiting early again and their offense continuing to flounder, the front office pulled the trigger on two trades that set the team up for a postseason run.
📞 WORKING THE PHONES: And they aren’t done yet! They are still active in the market for another bat, preferably one that plays center field. Before we get into the deals they already made, here is the latest reporting as of this morning:
▪️ Joel Sherman: “Those who know Stearns suspect he is way more likely not to use the best of his system – Nolan McLean, Carson Benge, Brandon Sproat, Jonah Tong and Jett Williams – at the deadline. Outside teams have said the Mets have been more receptive talking about their infield glut of Luisangel Acuna, Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio and Mark Vientos. But those officials said those players perhaps have greater value perception in New York than in the industry.”
▪️ Sherman names the Astros as a team interested in Baty, Mauricio and even Jeff McNeil.
▪️ The Mets remain linked to both Luis Robert Jr. and Cedric Mullins, although they aren’t “limiting” themselves to only center field options, according to The Athletic. They could explore adding a bat that finds playing time at the DH position.
🗒️ BUSY: Trades kept hitting the fax machine at MLB Headquarters past midnight. The Mariners added third baseman Eugenio Suárez while you were sleeping. Old friend Steven Matz landed in Boston. Keep track of all the latest deals here.
A lot can still happen between now and 6:00 PM EST.
☕️ Grab your coffee for your morning dose of Mets Fix!
If the Mets have a lead after the fifth inning, fuhgettaboutit.
At least, that’s what they are hoping after bringing submariner Tyler Rogers and flamethrower Ryan Helsey to Queens.
While both are rental pieces, set to become free agents after this season, they arrive with a short-term task: stabilize the bullpen and pitch the Mets deep into October.
The formula looks something like this:
Five innings from the starter.
Let matchups dictate whether to bring in Ryne Stanek, Reed Garrett, Gregory Soto or Brooks Raley next.
Unleash Tyler Rogers and Ryan Helsley in the 7th and 8th.
Sound the trumpets for the ninth.
We know Sean Manaea, Kodai Senga and David Peterson can put up five strong innings. On many nights, so can Clay Holmes. It’s getting past the fifth, asking these pitchers to face a lineup three times, where they run into trouble.
Rather than forcing them into an unfriendly situation, the front office is bolstering the support staff. While they gave up some namebrand young talent, they were able to secure two high-leverage arms without forfeiting any of their most coveted youngsters, something the Phillies can’t say after acquiring Jhoan Duran from the Twins at the cost of two Top-100 prospects.
Let’s break down each deal.
🔹 THE TRADE:
Mets get Tyler Rogers
Giants get Blade Tidwell, Drew Gilbert and José Buttó
🔹 THE ADD:
Rogers arrives with a minuscule 1.80 ERA in 53 appearances this season for the Giants. While he is particularly tough on righties, throwing from nearly the dirt of the mound, he has proven he can get hitters out from both sides of the plate.
What’s fun about Rogers, other than his delivery, is his ability to record outs without the modern trend of velocity. He throws some of the slowest sinkers and sliders in baseball, but creates enough deception with his release point to avoid barrels and induce ground balls.
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