With the trade deadline nearing, the Mets have made it clear their priority is the bullpen—not the rotation. While they continue to look to strengthen their left-handed relief corps, adding a left-handed starter seems unlikely given the limited quality options available on the market. President of Baseball Operations David Stearns summed up the team’s position perfectly: “Acquiring starting pitching at this time of year is pretty difficult... If those [ceiling-raising] guys are available, we’ll be
involved.”
On paper, the rotation looks stable with lefty Sean Manaea, David Peterson, Kodai Senga, Clay Holmes, and Frankie Montas; however, workload is becoming a concern. Since June 26, Mets starters have thrown just 100.1 innings—the fewest in baseball—averaging only 4.35 innings per start. Holmes, in particular, is a key figure, having matched a season-high of 104 pitches in his recent start against the Giants. He is now sitting at 113.2 innings—well beyond his previous season high. Managing his workload would be difficult as the Mets push for the playoffs.
Still, given Stearns’ remarks, a trade for a left-handed starter seems unlikely, as most available candidates are innings eaters rather than impact pitchers. Taking a look at pitchers on expiring contracts with non-contending teams, Andrew Heaney (4.79 ERA, 5.18 FIP) has struggled this year with Pittsburgh and lacks consistency. Tyler Anderson of the Angels carries a 4.41 ERA and 5.11 FIP and has looked more like a back-end option than the All-Star he once was. Both are pending free agents and offer little to move the needle for a team like the Mets.
Oakland offers a few alternatives, but the upside is limited there as well. Jeffrey Springs, who was excellent in 2022 with a 2.46 ERA over 135 innings, has seen his stuff diminish—his velocity is down 2.5 mph, and he’s pitched to a 4.13 ERA this season. His teammate, JP Sears has proven durable, making 32 starts each of the last two years, but his ceiling remains low, with a 4.98 ERA and nearly identical FIP. While these arms might help cover innings, they don’t do much to raise the rotation’s overall level.
One possible exception is Orioles lefty Trevor Rogers, a former All-Star now posting a 1.49 ERA over 48.1 innings. However, some of his underlying numbers—particularly a bottom-of-the-league hard-hit rate—suggest some regression is due. Further, with team control through the end of 2026, it’s possible the Orioles would be unwilling to trade him. Finally, Patrick Corbin, now on the Rangers, represents another veteran arm, posting a respectable 3.78 ERA and 4.03 FIP over 104.2 innings with decent peripherals, though his track record leaves plenty of hesitation.
In the end, it’s hard to see the Mets making a move for a left-handed starter—there simply aren’t many “ceiling-raising” options available. More broadly, rotation help of any kind doesn’t seem like a priority, with the front office signaling a disciplined approach despite the mounting innings load. That said, if a right-hander who genuinely raises the ceiling becomes available, the Mets could still be tempted to act.
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