The New York Mets are looking for a spark ahead of the MLB trade deadline, connected to several All-Star hitters and pitchers believed to be available. While several prominent trade candidates are on the team’s radar, the best hitter on the market reportedly isn’t.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that the Mets are “not in on” Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suárez. Instead, the club is focused on strengthening its bullpen while keeping an eye open to trade options at starting pitcher and center field.
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Heading into MLB games today, the Mets’ third basemen rank 19th in OPS (.674) and 20th in FanGraphs WAR (1.1). While it certainly wouldn’t be classified as a position of strength for the club, New York’s center fielders (.661 OPS) have performed worse.
Pitching is obviously a bigger need for the club. Entering play on July 25, New York ranked 26th in quality starts (28) and 20th in WHIP (1.30). The Mets’ bullpen has also been hit with some injuries, creating a bigger need for a left-handed reliever and a setup man.
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While Suárez would have been a great addition for the Mets’ lineup, he doesn’t fill a primary need. Since New York has limited trade chips to work with this summer, it is in the team’s best interest to prioritize pitching. If a hitter is acquired, it will likely be a center fielder.
