New York Mets: How They Should Approach The MLB Trade Deadline

With The MLB trade deadline fast approaching, the New York Mets are finding themselves in a precarious situation. After losing the first two games after the All-Star break to their long-time rival, the Atlanta Braves, the Mets are slowly starting to dig a hole that they may not be able to fill. Most will say that over the next two weeks Mets brass should give their team the bullpen help as well as a much needed right hand bat off the bench, but a solid push may not be helpful this year.

One thing that previous GM Omar Minaya did right for the Mets was to leave them with a flourishing minor league system that most scouts thought would never make it to the majors. Looking at these players today, one can clearly see that Omar had the right baseball people in the right places to evaluate and select the next round of Mets farmhands. To think that this team would even be where they are today with the likes of Lucas Duda, Ike Davis, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Ruben Tejada, Jordanny Valdespin and all of the others is virtually impossible. These youngsters have shown that they can play in the majors. What they haven’t shown, however, is the ability to close the gap on the likes of the Washington Nationals and the Braves.

I may be in the minority here, but the Mets should stand pat at the deadline on all areas but the bullpen. Sandy Alderson and Fred and Jeff Wilpon need to realize that even with a bat like San Diego Padres Carlos Quentin or the Oakland Athletics Johnny Gomes, along with bullpen depth, they simply are no better than third in the NL East. The only one that makes much sense is the Houston Astros pitcher, Brett Myers. The Mets can get him on the cheap and have a proven veteran in the clubhouse. Now, however, is the time to flourish with these youngsters and not give them up for talent that will not make a huge difference in the second half.

The Mets, as we all know, will not be spending a ton of money at the deadline so anyone they get will be mediocre at best. It would benefit the organization to move forward with the talent they have until an offseason evaluation can be made. Allow Miguel Batista to make the next two starts or so, then call up Matt Harvey to give him some experience with the major league roster. The Mets have alternatives such as Jenrry Mejia in the minors and Frank Francisco that will be returning soon so the bullpen itself will see the cavalry. The bat may not be provided by the inevitable return of Jason Bay, but Terry Collins will most assuredly be giving him the bulk of the playing time anyway.

With the albatross that is Bay and the known lack of spending from the front office, it would be wise for management and fans to just ride this wonderful wave that has been the New York Mets in 2012. Let the proven minor leaguers that have been contributing to the club to finish out a year in which the Mets have seen their first no-hitter in their history and a knuckleballer in R.A.Dickey that has been a revelation at the front of the starting rotation. Enjoy the second half as fans and just remember that as long as you believe, this team will keep it interesting at all times.