6 thoughts about the Mets before the Trade Deadline

This story was excerpted from Anthony DiComo’s Mets Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

NEW YORK -- By the time this newsletter lands in your inbox, there will be a little more than four days until the Major League Trade Deadline, scheduled for 6 p.m. ET Monday. So far, the Mets have been quiet. That could change literally any minute.

This week, scouts from around the league have visited Citi Field to see what the Mets have for sale. It’s not often that a team with this type of payroll sells off parts in the middle of a season. Consider it a unique opportunity for the Mets not just to restock their farm system, but to acquire pieces that can help them in 2027.

As we await more Deadline news -- trust me, it’s going to happen -- here are six thoughts I’ve gathered over the past week.

1. The Mets are going to get something interesting for Clay Holmes

It doesn’t matter that he hasn’t pitched since May. In canvassing the industry this week, I’ve yet to find a single talent evaluator who feels comfortable recommending Freddy Peralta over Holmes. Scouts from at least half a dozen teams flew to Florida with little notice just to see Holmes throw 59 pitches in a Single-A rehab game. Given the high expected price for Tarik Skubal, if the Tigers trade Skubal at all, Holmes may be the pitching Plan A for multiple teams. That’s good for the Mets.

Semi-relatedly: the Mets should scratch Holmes from what would be his rotation return on Sunday. Opposing scouts have already seen what they needed to see. From a Mets perspective, nothing good can come out of using Holmes in that game.

2. Tyrone Taylor’s breakout is a nice bonus

A month ago, most people would have scoffed had I suggested the Mets might receive anything of value for Taylor or Luis Robert Jr., two right-handed outfielders who were on the injured list. Taylor hadn’t been productive for the better part of two seasons. Robert didn’t seem like he would ever get healthy. Yet both have enjoyed success since coming off the IL. For Taylor, six home runs over a 35-plate appearance span put him back on the radars of clubs needing right-handed pop … and those aren’t hard to find. Robert hasn’t been quite as productive, but for him, the important part has been proving his health; the league knows what Robert can do when he’s upright. It hasn’t hurt that he’s popped a couple of homers himself.

3. About the Peralta thing …

Yeah, I don’t know either. Regarding Peralta, the best thing the Mets have going for them is the fact that this year -- like every year -- starting pitching is in demand. Skubal is going to be extremely expensive. As previously discussed, the next-best pitcher available might be Holmes, who should have plenty of competition for his services. After that, it’s hard to say who might get moved. If nothing else, I can guarantee this: pitching coaches around the league would love to get their hands on Peralta. It’s probably inevitable he will be traded. The only question is if the Mets will receive anything all that interesting in return.

4. The Mets could price Luke Weaver high enough that he won’t get moved

Multiple rival talent evaluators this weekend said that Weaver, and to a lesser extent Huascar Brazobán, will command premiums given their track records and the fact that they’re not rentals. (Weaver has one year and $12.5 million left on his deal after this one; Brazobán has three more years and will be arbitration-eligible after this season.) Mets officials have made it clear that they expect to complete in 2027. That’s going to be harder if they trade away half their bullpen, considering lefties Brooks Raley and A.J. Minter are sure to go. Those two are both on expiring contracts.

5. Raley deserves to pitch for a contender

Since coming to the Mets, Raley done everything asked of him, using his low-slot delivery to throw some of the filthiest sweepers in the league today. He’s a consummate professional. He’s also 38 years old and hasn’t been to the postseason since 2022, when his Rays crashed out in two games. This could be Raley’s last, best chance to win a World Series.

6. The Mets must get more than prospects in trades

President of baseball operations David Stearns and owner Steve Cohen have both been clear that the Mets intend to compete in 2027. If that’s the case, they cannot rely on free agency and their farm system alone to build a contender. They have to acquire pieces that will help them immediately, either in the form of Major League pitching or prospects who are already in Triple-A. It’s their clearest path toward avoiding a longer period of non-competitiveness.