Reese Kaplan -- Improving on the Impressive Start to 2022

As June begins to come to its conclusion there's no mistaking the fact that the Mets are indeed in first place and have pushed to 21 games over .500.  Some of that great fortune you can attribute to Pete Alonso's monster season, Francisco Lindor's RBI rampage and to unexpected contributions from others all over the field.

The scary part for other ballclubs is that the Mets have done it like a shell game when it comes to their pitching staff.  Between losing Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer, Tylor Megill, Trevor May and others for short or long intervals of time, somehow the team has stayed competitive.  

A great deal of long overdue praise needs to be heaped on previously vilified Edwin Diaz who as of Saturday was sporting a record of 2-1 in 30 of the club's first 73 games with 16 saves, a 2.12 ERA and an unbelievable 57 strikeouts in less than 28 innings pitched.

What has Mets fans chomping at the bit is what could happen in the second half.  The three starting pitchers on the shelf should be back on the hill.  That alone should be enough to tie a pretty ribbon around the successful package put together by Billy Eppler and Buck Showalter.  However, it's not just about starting pitching.

Bear in mind that the club is still functioning with regulars not hitting to their career norms.  Eduardo Escobar every now and then appears to be on the brink of busting out, but he's still in the .230 range as a hitter.  The Mets catchers are essentially replacing the pitcher's spot in the batting order, not even hitting as well as Escobar.  The bench, other than Luis Guillorme, has been more miss than hit.  There's definitely room to improve the offense.  

Right now fans are drooling over what mid-season acquisitions can be made to reinforce an already formidable team, but it doesn't appear that the major league starting players nor pitchers are the method to enhance the team's stronghold on the top of the division.  No, it would more likely seem that prospects who have done well in the minors are the currency that will be used if indeed they appear blocked at the major league level by more proven ballplayers.

Ronny Mauricio is usually at the top of the lists of prospective trade bait as he has a ten-year contract extension for Francisco Lindor keeping him from his eventual ascent to shortstop in Queens.  While hitting for average has not been his greatest attribute in the minors, in 2021 he came from two clubs for a combined 20 HRs and 64 RBIs.  

This year he's less than halfway through the season at Binghamton and this 21 year old already has 13 HRs and 46 RBIs, well on his way to shattering what he did at the lower levels.  His defensive reputation is solid, so the asking price for him will be pretty steep.  

Then you have the issue of Brett Baty.  He's got a bit more of an open road to the majors with third base being a proverbial Wright-less hole in the Mets lineup.  During his total minor league career which is just over 600 ABs he has 20 HRs and 104 RBIs while hitting .274.  He's also taken innings in the outfield to try to increase his versatility, but he's another name that opposing GMs will ask about extensively.

One of the reasons he could be available is the emergence of slugging third baseman (and outfielder) Mark Vientos.  He's had a bit more seasoning in the minors but in just over 1300 ABs he has hit .267 with 63 HRs and 234 RBIs.  Can you say "Wow?"

There are various pitchers in the system who could go as part of a package deal, but the only position player who is virtually untouchable is thumping catcher Francisco Alvarez.  You all know the story by now about how his glove hasn't caught up with his bat, but oh, what a bat it has been.  The rotund young man has already had stops at six places on his sprint up the ladder towards the majors.  

In just over 700 ABs he has already hit 48 HRs and driven in 141 while hitting .285.  People are already whispering names like Mike Piazza in describing his offensive potential and his defensive shortcomings.  Still, you will tolerate his deficiencies defensively when he can produce with the vicious swing of his bat.  

So expect Billy Eppler to look for reinforcements for the bullpen, for the outfield and perhaps even for third base.  It's unlikely they're ready to pull the plug in year two of James McCann's $40 million contract but with Alvarez perhaps no more than a year away it's possible they might want an outgoing catcher who can deliver more offensively to help the club win.  

Right now the AAA team is not very good, so it's also possible Eppler could work some prospect for prospect deals to set the club up for the future.  Just don't go hoping that somehow they're luring Mike Trout or Josh Hader will be wearing orange and blue.