With the MLB trade deadline just around the corner, the New York Mets have zeroed in on bullpen-trade-deadline-strategies-for-success/”>bullpen reinforcements. David Stearns, Mets president of baseball operations, has laid out his approach for this crucial stretch.
He’s talking about possible outside additions, but he’s also keeping an eye on internal options. In Syracuse, a couple of top-tier Triple-A prospects—Brandon Sproat and Nolan McLean—are turning heads.
Stearns wants to keep these guys as starters, not rush them into relief roles. The team’s juggling roster updates and rehab timelines, and you can feel the urgency building as the Mets try to strengthen their relief corps before crunch time.
Why the Mets Are Prioritizing Their Bullpen at the Trade Deadline
The Mets’ bullpen has been a real weak spot this season. Stearns has made it clear that shoring up relief pitching is at the top of his list.
Trade rumors are swirling, but he’s also got backup plans. He’s considering a possible shuffle involving Sproat and McLean, though he’s not eager to pull the trigger.
The Promise of Sproat and McLean
Sproat and McLean have been outstanding in Triple-A with Syracuse. Sproat recently strung together 23 straight scoreless innings, and McLean’s sitting on a 2.58 ERA over 17 games.
They’re showing they can handle higher-level competition. Still, turning starters into relievers midseason isn’t exactly simple.
Stearns pointed out that moving pitchers from the rotation to the bullpen is tricky. Once you do it, stretching them back out as starters later on is tough—and that’s a big part of the Mets’ decision-making right now.
The Brewers Experience: A Lesson in Starter-to-Reliever Conversions
Stearns brought up his time with the Milwaukee Brewers to make his point. Back then, he converted some top starters into bullpen arms to help the big-league roster.
It worked for a while, but he always kept an eye on the long-term impact. Sometimes injuries hit, or player development got thrown off.
Right now, the Mets’ rotation is healthy and stable. That’s a relief for Stearns, who can try to fix the bullpen without having to raid the starter pool out of desperation.
Internal Developments in Mets Player Health
There’s some good news on the injury front. Starling Marte, sidelined with a knee bruise since July 6, could be back in just a few days.
He’s not even expected to need a rehab assignment, so he might jump straight back into the lineup. José Buttó is almost ready to return after a solid rehab, and Paul Blackburn is gearing up for another rehab start in Syracuse.
That’s a boost for the Mets’ pitching depth, giving Stearns more options as the deadline approaches.
Roster Moves: Who’s In and Who’s Out?
The Mets have been busy shuffling their roster. They reclaimed righty Rico Garcia and sent him to Syracuse.
Richard Lovelady, a lefty, was outrighted there too after struggling in the majors. Dedniel Núñez, unfortunately, is out for the season after elbow surgery and a move to the 60-day injured list.
Building Depth Amid Uncertainty
These moves might not grab headlines, but they’re part of the Mets’ effort to build depth and keep their options open. Stearns seems determined to find the right mix of stability and upside as the team heads into a hectic trade deadline.
The Road Ahead for the Mets
The trade deadline creeps closer, and the Mets are still locked in on shoring up their bullpen. They’re trying to strike a balance between growing talent from within and looking outside for help.
Top prospects like Sproat and McLean keep impressing. Injured players are inching back, so David Stearns suddenly has options if he’s feeling gutsy about a playoff run.
Mets fans should brace for a busy few weeks. The team’s path forward is about to get a whole lot clearer.
Will they trade for bullpen arms? Or maybe double down on their young guys? However it shakes out, the Mets seem determined to make a real push down the stretch.
Here is the source article for this story: David Stearns not ruling out starter prospects as Mets bullpen boost…
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