The uncertainty and fluidity of this period is currently embodied by the Mets and their starting pitching staff.
Not long ago, before they were playing as the best team in the National League, the Mets were expected to trade a one-year starting pitcher or three. As their performance improved, the Mets were still considering whether they could use a buy-sell strategy, selling starters like Sean Manaea and Jose Quintana.
New York Mets starting pitcher Christian Scott. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters
That strategy has become especially clear as Christian Scott’s planned re-promotion nears and Senga Kodai’s promotion to the majors looms.
So what now?
Scott was promoted from Triple-A and started four games before being diagnosed with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament. The best outcome at this point is that the rookie right-hander can rest for a few weeks and then prepare without issue and become an option later in the season. But if his rehab fails, Tommy John surgery is on the cards.
After a rigorous rehabilitation from a shoulder injury, Senga made his 2024 debut on Friday night and pitched well (allowing two runs and striking out nine in 5 1/3 innings) but was diagnosed with a severe calf strain that will likely sideline the right-hander for the remainder of the regular season, according to manager Carlos Mendoza.
New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga reacts after suffering a calf injury in the bottom of the sixth inning. AP
All of a sudden, I heard this from an AL talent evaluator about the Mets: “I know they’re in the starting pitching market.”
The Mets almost have to. Their 4-0 loss to the Braves on Saturday upended two of the National League wild-card leads, moving them into a tie for second place with the Padres. They’re in a tough spot and need to bolster their current starting lineup of Manaea, Quintana, Luis Severino, David Peterson and Tyler Megill, who was promoted to the starting role on Saturday. The Mets don’t want to take away Jose Butt from their relief lineup, who has been an effective reliever. Perhaps they regret designating Adrian Hauser as undrafted, who could have added depth to their roster. Prospect Brandon Sproat seems to be getting more attention.
But in the short term, manager David Stearns has a growing need to acquire starting pitcher, in part because of instability in nearly every aspect of the current rotation, including Severino, who has now pitched just 120 ²/₃ innings after throwing a combined 209 ¹/₃ over the past five seasons.
New York Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
I believe the best route the Mets can take is to acquire a starting pitcher they have some control over in the future, given that Manaea, Severino, and Quintana are potential free agents and Scott’s immediate future is uncertain. The Mets need to shop around in this area in the offseason, and now they can improve their chances of making the playoffs and acquire at least one starter for 2025.
Two that stand out to me are Erick Feddy of the White Sox and Jameson Taillon of the Cubs.
The Mets drafted Fedde, who was drafted by the Nationals in the first round, then went to Korea, where he won 20 games and was named the KBO MVP. He signed a two-year, $15 million contract with the White Sox to return to the majors and has posted a 2.98 ERA in 20 games. Of course, the high-end pitching of teammate Garrett Crochette has garnered attention. But Fedde, who is due to sign a $7.5 million contract in 2025, is holding lefty and righty batters to an equal .223 batting average.
Erick Fedde of the Chicago White Sox pitches during the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas on July 22, 2024. Getty Images
Taillon is due $18 million in both 2025 and 2026. He has a track record of navigating New York well after spending 2021-2022 with the Yankees, plus a reputation as a great teammate. And in 17 starts for the Cubs this year, Taillon had a 2.96 ERA.
There are others, such as the Angels’ Tyler Anderson, who is under team control for $13 million next season, and players such as Detroit’s Jack Flaherty and Toronto’s Yusei Kikuchi who could sign on one-year deals if the Mets so choose.
The Orioles could supplement Eflin’s acquisition with some younger players.
The Orioles, not known for being spendthrifts, acquired Zach Eflin in a trade that will earn him $18 million in 2025, reflecting a new era in Baltimore with deep-pocketed new owner David Rubinstein.
The Orioles acquired Zach Eflin in a trade. Eflin is due to earn $18 million in 2025. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters
But rival executives also noted that the Orioles previously worked out a trade to send Austin Hayes to the Phillies. Hayes is making $6.3 million this year and could make even more or be a non-offer candidate in next year’s final arbitration season.
Additionally, some rival executives believe the Orioles are keeping an eye on first baseman Ryan Mountcastle and center fielder Cedric Mullins, both of whom are arbitration-eligible and could be traded at the deadline or during the offseason to give them the financial flexibility to absorb Eflin. Baltimore would then add youngsters Coby Mayo at first base and Colton Cowser and Heston Kierstad in center field to pair with Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Jordan Westberg and eventually Jaxson Holiday.
“They’re going to have the youngest position group, the cheapest position group and probably the best position group by next year,” the executive said, admiring the deal. “That’s pretty incredible.”
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Jazz deal loses two Yankees players
Before the Yankees acquired Jazz Chisholm, I thought one way to acquire a hitter and a relief pitcher at the same time would be to try to make a trade to acquire third baseman Luis Rengifo and closer Carlos Estevez from the Angels, but both are likely still on the table.
So I called Phil Nevin, who was the Yankees third base coach from 2018-2021 and managed Rengifo’s Angels the past two years and is a close friend of Aaron Boone, and he had nothing but praise for both of them as players and teammates.
Nevin said Rengifo is “full of energy” and “want to win.” Getty Images
“He’s full of energy and he wants to win,” Nevin said of Rengifo. “I’ve watched him grow and turn into a really good, winning player. He’s learned to understand the game and he’s probably quicker than any player I’ve ever coached in terms of taking criticism and instruction and applying it and understanding what he needs to do to get better.”
Nevin praised Rengifo for how much his swing has improved against left-handed batters, but what makes him appealing to the Yankees, who have struggled against lefties, is that over the past three seasons, Rengifo is sixth in batting average (.328) (min. 300 at-bats) against lefties and ninth in slugging percentage (.555).
Nevin also said Rengifo is “a better defender than people think because he’s put in the work.”
Regarding the Phillies acquiring Estevez in exchange for two promising pitchers, Nevin said, “He’s a great teammate and I think he understands his role as a game-closer and wants to be that guy. But no matter what role you put him in, he’s the same guy. Carlos became the veteran leader of our relief corps last year. He’s mastered throwing it at the top of the zone with his fastball and has a really good slider. I think he’ll be a great addition for somebody.”
Luis Garcia, a name often mentioned on the Angels’ pitching staff, didn’t pitch for Nevin last year, but multiple scouts mentioned him as a low-profile trade candidate, especially because of the veteran right-hander’s high ground-ball rate.
