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July 17: Mets may be the frontrunner to acquire Pirates RHP Keller (report)
The Mets' starting rotation bulked up over the past few weeks with the returns of Frankie Montas, Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea from various injuries. But that group could still use another upgrade, and it might come in the form of Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller.
According to Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (subscription required), the Mets are "still very interested" in Keller and "are perhaps the frontrunner for his services." Hiles adds that Keller is also receiving interest from the Yankees and Cubs.
Keller, 29, threw 372 1/3 innings over the past two seasons and has recorded a 3.48 ERA over 119 frames this year. That ERA would be Keller's best in a non-shortened season. He's also closing in on his career high in fWAR (3.3) as he entered the All-Star break with 2.6. That's tied with the Twins' Joe Ryan for 18th-best among qualified starters.
Keller is in the second year of a five-year, $77 million contract. He is due about $55 million from 2026-28.
July 16: Mets have looked into veteran FA reliever (report)
The Mets traded away right-handed reliever David Robertson at the 2023 Trade Deadline, sending the veteran to the Marlins for a pair of Minor Leaguers. Two years later, the Mets could reunite with Robertson -- ahead of the 2025 Deadline this time.
Robertson declined a $7 million mutual option to stay with Texas in 2025, taking a $1.5 million buyout to become a free agent. He is now receiving interest from several teams, including the Mets and Yankees, Will Sammon of The Athletic reported Tuesday (subscription required).
The 16-year veteran last pitched for the Rangers in 2024, posting a 3.00 ERA with 99 strikeouts in 72 innings. He owns a 3.04 career postseason ERA in 47 1/3 innings. He could be a fit for a Mets bullpen currently without a host of relievers: José Buttó, Max Kranick, Brooks Raley, Drew Smith, Dedniel Núñez, A.J. Minter and Danny Young are all on the IL, with the last three already ruled out for the rest of 2025. While the Mets relief corps has performed well enough this season (3.83 ERA, 14th in MLB), adding a veteran like Robertson to the mix could certainly help.
July 6: Mets interested in Pirates RHP Keller (reports)
With five pitchers on the injured list and the recent starts going to Justin Hagenman and Chris Devenski, the Mets are in search of rotation help, if nothing else than to add depth as Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga near their returns.
According to reports from Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (subscription required) and Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Mets have turned their attention to 29-year-old Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller.
A 2023 All-Star, Keller has been a popular figure in past trade rumors, but they were quieted once he signed a five-year, $77 million extension with the Pirates before the 2024 season. That means that any team acquiring him at this year's deadline would have him on a relatively affordable deal for the next 3 1/2 seasons.
That and the fact that Keller has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 10 of his last 11 starts probably elevates his price tag, if the Pirates decide to make him available at all. With controllable starters Paul Skenes and Bailey Falter already on the roster and Triple-A phenom Bubba Chandler likely on the way soon, the Pirates may feel a contention window will open while Keller is under contract.
It remains to be seen how the Mets would fare in a bidding war with teams such as the Cubs, who have also expressed interest in Keller. New York has the 12th-ranked farm system according to MLB Pipeline and four top 100 prospects, along with several young players on the 26-man roster that could draw interest if the asking price for Keller escalates.
The Mets still rank fourth in baseball with a 3.38 rotation ERA and have won four in a row as of July 6, but in losing 14 of 17 games from June 13-July 2, they allowed 112 runs, including 30 to Pittsburgh in a three-game Pirates sweep. The acquisition of Keller or another solid veteran could provide immediate stability, long-term depth and a proven arm that might slot into the postseason rotation.
June 20: Mets reportedly looking for center field, bullpen help at Deadline
According to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic (subscription required), the Mets are "monitoring the market for help in center field and the bullpen."
Tyrone Taylor has been New York's leading center fielder since mid-April, when Jose Siri was sidelined with a fractured left tibia. Taylor has provided solid defense (four outs above average), but he is hitting just .237 with a .648 OPS. Overall, the Mets' offensive production in center field has been below average (94 wRC+). Although no specific targets were mentioned by The Athletic, the Orioles' Cedric Mullins and White Sox Luis Robert Jr. are a couple of the center fielders who could be on the block as we near the July 31 Deadline.
As for the Mets' bullpen, it owns a 4.29 ERA this month after posting a 2.87 ERA -- second-best in MLB -- through the end of May. MLB Network insider Jon Heyman writes in the New York Post (subscription required) that the Mets will have "particular interest" in a left-handed reliever. The club lost lefty relievers Danny Young and A.J. Minter to season-ending injuries back in April.
The Mets have also seen their starting rotation hit hard by injuries this season, and Heyman wrote that he expects the team to be on the hunt to add there as well. But beyond Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara, it's unclear if any difference-making aces will be put on the market. Rival executives told Heyman that there is "some chance" that the Brewers could trade starter Freddy Peralta. However, a match with the Mets would seem to be unlikely.
"Mets baseball president David Stearns knows Peralta from his Milwaukee days," Heyman wrote. "But Peralta would take a haul, and Stearns’ reputation is he won’t trade the farm."
Whatever the Mets decide to do, they should have the prospect depth needed to pull off a deal. They have five players ranked in MLB Pipeline's Top 100 prospects and more beyond that who intrigue other teams. As one National League general manager told The Athletic, "Such depth, especially with arms that other clubs like, makes [the Mets] all the more dangerous when you add that they can probably take on money because of their owner and they’re led by David Stearns in a good front office."
June 12: Mets getting trade inquires about Blackburn (report)
The Mets have been receiving trade interest in Paul Blackburn from clubs looking to bolster their rotation depth, according to a report from MLB Network insider Joel Sherman, writing for the New York Post (subscription required).
The right hamstring strain suffered by Kodai Senga on Thursday afternoon makes a Blackburn trade less likely in the short term, with the latter expected to take Senga’s spot in the rotation. However, Blackburn’s stay in New York’s rotation might not last long, as Sean Manaea (right oblique strain) and Frankie Montas (right lat strain) are both nearing their returns from the IL.
After missing all of April and May due to right knee inflammation, Blackburn has made two appearances totaling nine innings in 2025. The 31-year-old, who is set to become a free agent at the end of this season, owns a lifetime 4.82 ERA over 88 appearances (83 starts) in the Majors.