Reese Kaplan -- Tick, Tick, Tick...Any Improvements Yet?

The loss in the opening series in San Diego was crushing for a few reasons.  First, it featured a clutch grand slam by likely-to-be-traded slugger Mark Vientos.  Then there was the usual meltdown from the much maligned David Stearns’ starting pitcher acquisition Frankie Montas, then came a clutch 9th inning game-tying home run by Ronny Mauricio, and finally there was the give it all away inning from Stearns’ new 4.24 ERA reliever Gregory Soto.  

Two good things, two bad things and still nothing much changing on the 2025 roster as less than two full days remain in the trading season.

Many fans are quick to cite the many articles that praise David Stearns’ reputation in professional baseball.  Words like “thoughtful,” “insightful,” and “creative” were often used in evaluation of the former Milwaukee Brewers top executive.  

No one is disputing Stearns’ qualifications overall, but the timing of his implemented solutions are sometimes head scratching to say the least.

Now back in the Wilpon days and earlier days it was fairly commonplace for the lifting up of rocks in the available pile of available players in the quest of unknown gems who would somehow shrug off the dust and rust of their entire previous career and become solid stars under Mets employment.  We all know how that approach didn’t work.

Then came David Stearns who had the budget any head honcho would love to enjoy and we all figured there would be corresponding player acquisitions to strengthen an already decent roster with unquestionable moves to propel the team into perennial contenders.  In round one of his time in Queens there were indeed some good acquisitions.  

Sean Manaea pitched better in 2024 than anyone had anticipated.  Luis Severino was a highly questionable move but a 3.91 ERA out of a starting pitcher these days is considered a decent level of performance. 

Of course, then came the center field glove of Harrison Bader.  No one ever questioned his ability to track down anything hit between the players to his left and right.  However, his bat has always been lackluster, yet propelling his acquisition in the former Mets owner mold he tried to play off the move as a bargain at $10 million for a guy with a career .243 hitter.  The fact that he was a good buddy of free-agent-to-be Pete Alonso also factored into the equation, apparently.

This off season was equally inconsistent.  The starting rotation saw the return of Manaea, the return of Kodai Senga, the return of David Peterson, and the conversion of Clay Holmes from quality reliever into quality starter. Everyone surveyed was happy with these reinforcements to the starting pitching that did not necessarily push the inconsistent duo of Tylor Megill and Paul Blackburn into an every fifth day role.

Then came the highly curious multiyear deal extended to oft injured and usually mediocre starting pitcher Frankie Montas.  If you look at the numbers you find them pretty unimpressive, particularly since 2021 when his 3.37 ERA for the year was done for Oakland.  Since then it has been 4.53.  For that Stearns coughed up $17 million for 2025 and contained a player option for another $17 million in 2026. 

Now anyone who knows me understands I am not a fan of the ever backsliding Tylor Megill, but his career ERA is lower than what you’d get from Montas during that same time period.  Even the highly questionable trade for the nearly 5.00 ERA pitcher Paul Blackburn could be positioned as a more prudent move at a pay rate $13 million lower than what the Montas family will enjoy this year and again next year. 

When the bullpen fell apart due to multiple injuries the front office did nothing other than DFA and minor league AAAA pitcher acquisitions to make up for what had been expected of A.J. Minter.  In the final ten days of the July trading deadline with nearly 100 games of 162 gone the club finally brought in Gregory Soto whose 4.15 ERA since 2023 along with 4.5 walks per 9 innings pitched is supposed to be the functional savior.  

He has had some better days in the past but he’s not likely going to replace A.J. Minter.  Perhaps combined with the returned Brooks Raley they’ve gotten closer, but...

Then there is the center field question.  Tyrone Taylor is looking worse at the plate this year than he ever did during the rest of his career.  His glove is top notch and his speed is quite impressive, but again nearly 100 games into the season with Jose Siri gone almost from day one and the front office has still done nothing. 

We’ve all heard the names allegedly available...a Harrison Bader reunion, Cedric Mullins and his Mendoza-line hitting, Luis Robert, Jr. and his Mendoza line hitting...are we still searching for diamonds in the rough?

Then there is the DH.  Ironically the player actually delivering with his bat and legs, Starling Marte, is suddenly appearing in the rumor mills as someone other teams might be coveting.  

Jesse Winker is not projected back anytime soon, so it would appear that if they are dissatisfied with one of overcrowded slate of infielders being a DH then it would seem that finding a bat should be someone on the radar.

Today is Wednesday.  The deadline is tomorrow.  Hopefully something changes for the positive between when this piece was written and when it appears at 6:00 AM.  That hope leaves less than 48 hours to improve the roster, something not been done since the 2025 season began.