Major League Baseball’s trade deadline is just three weeks away, which means time is running out for teams like the Arizona Diamondbacks, who are still trying to decipher whether or not they want to attempt a playoff push with the currently constructed roster or make notable trades and look towards next season. Arizona is 46-48, and in a really tough National League, they are on the outside looking in on the playoff picture.
The opposite is the case for the New York Mets, who, despite numerous pitching injuries to their starting rotation, are just 1.5 games back of the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East, and have a comfortable lead atop the Wild Card ladder.
New York will be without Tylor Megill for pretty much the rest of the regular season. There have been no reports of Kodai Senga returning soon, and Sean Manaea still hasn’t pitched this season.
Mets Trade Idea Lands Merrill Kelly
The New York Mets are all-in on this season. After signing Juan Soto in the offseason and advancing to the NLCS in 2024, they have World Series aspirations, and it’s almost World Series or bust for New York.
In a recent trade piece by Bleacher Report, writer Tim Kelly predicts the Mets to trade for Arizona Diamondbacks ace Merrill Kelly before the July 31st deadline.
Here is a good clip of what Kelly had to say that makes a potential deal make sense:
“Perhaps Sean Manaea will play a role down the stretch, but the Mets can’t expect him to be the same pitcher he was in the second half of last season. Not only does Kelly have a 3.49 ERA over 111 innings this season, but he is playoff-tested after posting a 2.25 ERA during a magical 2023 postseason run for the Diamondbacks. Blade Tidwellâa 24-year-old who has struggled in limited MLB appearances this season but has a five-pitch arsenal that includes a 95.8 mph average fastballâmight make sense as someone the Diamondbacks could bring back.”
The idea is that since Kelly is set to be a free agent, and may not resign with Arizona after this year might make him a possible trade option. He is set to turn 37 in October, but has still been highly productive.
Kelly Would be a Pivotal Addition for New York
The New York Mets are in somewhat of a weird spot and face one of two scenarios. Do they want to wait until their injured starters get back healthy and take the chance that they will have the same production when they return, or do they go and acquire Kelly now to ensure that they have a guy who will surely be ready for the playoffs?
Kelly has a 3.41 ERA in 111 innings with 107 strikeouts over 19 starts. So not only has he been productive, but he’s been consistent in being able to take the ball every fifth day and provide length.
For New York, they will certainly be one of the teams to keep an eye on as the deadline gets closer, and you have to think in the organization’s eyes that adding another starter, reliever, or both is at the forefront of their mind.
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