Reese Kaplan -- Major Changes Needed But Stearns Just Signs Throwaways

Well, it didn’t take long for the Mets to make headline grabbing significant moves to correct the out of control downhill skid.  In order to solidify the offense they replaced elder statesman Tommy Pham with 4 year younger Austin Slater. 

Really?  This move is the best that David Stearns has to offer?  I’m sure hoping that there’s a magic “The Natural” spin that’s going to evolve from this stunning and monstrous transaction.  After all, if you only look at career numbers then you see that Slater is a career .247 hitter spread over now his 7th team during his highly unimpressive career.  His best year ever was way back in 2021 for the Giants when he hit .241 with 12 HRs and 32 RBIs.  In David Stearns’ mind he’s the missing jewel from the roster treasure chest.  Could he morph into a, say, .250 or .260 hitter?  Sure, stranger things have happened but there’s no guarantee and right now he’s another Tyrone Taylor minus the defensive skills.

But Stearns was not done reinforcing the team.  Scrap heap picking yet again he also inked the worst defensive first baseman in baseball in Eric Wagaman who was DFA’d by the Marlins because in addition to needing blindfolds for when he plays the field they also apparently couldn’t stomach his .250 hitting without power.  The Angels gave up on him after one year and now the Twins have done the same.  The Mets did assign him to the minors which MAYBE means they are opening up the possibility of promoting suddenly hot hitting Ryan Clifford to play first base in Jorge Polanco’s extended absence, but once again finding what other teams no longer want or need as a way of rebuilding a losing roster is ponderous at best.

At the risk of being redundant, have a look at the rest of the roster.  Mark Vientos, Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio, Bo Bichette, Tyrone Taylor, MJ Melendez, Carson Benge, Francisco Alvarez, Luis Robert and even a slumping upon his return Juan Soto are not exactly what would intimidate the opposition.  We can go through the same exercise with flawed starting pitchers and relievers but the end result is the same.  Something needs to be done and a .247 hitting outfielder and an error prone first baseman without power is not exactly solving the problem.

It is possible to make what baseball savants call a “trade” to try to improve the roster, but given the players the Mets might want to push out the door there are no opposing General Managers pushing and shoving to add any of them to their teams.  It may take the more appealing sacrifice of seeing what highly regarded minor leaguers can net in return though by doing so you’re potentially crippling the future of the team.  However, as it stands right now there is exactly one hitter on the roster with a batting average that doesn’t require you to look away in shame.

For now we’re all being apparently asked to swallow hard and keep watching what isn’t working with no health improvements nor slump busting taking place.  The pitching is giving away games as well yet in this regard nothing is happening either.  How much rope does David Stearns get for his team construction while the Mets plummet into what could be permanent oblivion?