The Mets are bad this year. Like, one of the worst records in baseball bad. And with the trade deadline coming up on August 3, the question isn’t whether they’ll sell. It’s what they’ll get back.
According to MLB.com beat writer Anthony DiComo, the front office should be looking for a pitcher who can contribute in 2027 and beyond. Not a rental. Not a stopgap. Someone who can actually slot into the rotation next to Nolan McLean and Christian Scott next season.
In his latest column, DiComo put it pretty bluntly.
“Most likely, the Mets will head into the offseason with Nolan McLean and Christian Scott as surefire 2027 rotation options,” he wrote. “Beyond those two, it’s anyone’s guess, partly dependent on what happens at the Deadline. If the Mets can turn their tradeable assets into a pitcher to help the 2027 starting five, that would be a boon for a team that’s suffered through one of the worst rotation seasons in recent franchise history.”
That’s not an exaggeration either. The Mets rotation has been a disaster. They traded for Freddy Peralta before the season, hoping he’d replicate his 2025 All-Star campaign with the Brewers. Instead, the 30-year-old right-hander is having the worst year of his career. Through 95.1 innings, he’s got a 4.81 ERA, a 1.416 WHIP, and just 92 strikeouts. Not exactly the ace they thought they were getting.
So what do the Mets have to work with? A few veteran pieces that could appeal to contenders. Maybe someone like Starling Marte or Jeff McNeil. Possibly a reliever or two. The return won’t be flashy, but if they can find a young arm with team control, that’s the win.
It’s not a sexy strategy. But when you’re sitting near the bottom of the standings with the All-Star break around the corner, you don’t get to shop for luxury goods. You shop for parts that might actually work next year.
The Mets will probably be one of the more talked-about teams leading up to August 3. Not because they’re buying. Because they’re selling for something that looks a lot like a future.
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