Not long ago — before they were playing like the best team in the National League — the Mets could envision trading a walk-year starter or three. As their performance improved, the Mets were still wondering if they could have a buy-and-sell strategy — with the sell being a starter such as Sean Manaea or Jose Quintana. That strategy became particularly crystalized as plans to re-promote Christian Scott neared in conjunction with Kodai Senga moving closer to the majors. .
In the short term, though, David Stearns has a greater need to land a starter, in part because there is volatility pretty much everywhere in the current rotation, including Severino being at 120 ²/₃ innings after throwing 209 ¹/₃ over the previous five seasons combined. I believe the best route the Mets could take is to acquire a starter with some future control considering Manaea, Severino and Quintana can be free agents and Scott’s near future is now clouded.
“They are going to have the youngest position group no later than next year and the least-expensive position group and possibly the best position group,” the executive said with admiration. “It is really something.”, I thought one way to add a bat and a reliever at once was to try to deal with the Angels for third baseman Luis Rengifo and closer Carlos Estevez. It is not possible both are still in play.