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New York Times
7 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Why the Mets didn't add to starting rotation at trade deadline
The last time a New York Mets starting pitcher other than David Peterson completed six innings was on June 7. Yet Thursday's trade deadline passed without the Mets adding to their starting rotation. Instead, the Mets prioritized relief help, acquiring lefty Gregory Soto and right-handers Tyler Rogers and Ryan Helsley without sacrificing from the top of their farm system. The bullpen, led by closer Edwin Díaz, looks formidable. Advertisement The rotation, which features Kodai Senga, Sean Manaea, Clay Holmes, Frankie Montas and Peterson — who, to his credit, has logged at least six innings in four straight starts — looks exactly the same. The Mets probably took such a direction for a few reasons: the lack of availability of quality starting pitchers in the market, the prospect cost to get who was available and the growing ability these days to win the World Series behind a strong bullpen. Several high-ranking executives entered the weeks and days leading up to the trade deadline wondering if an ace-caliber starter would even exist in the market. The best starting pitcher who ended up getting traded was Merrill Kelly, who went to the Texas Rangers from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for three prospects: Left-hander Kohl Drake (Rangers' No. 5 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline), lefty Mitch Bratt (No. 9) and right-hander David Hagaman (No. 13). No other big-name starting pitchers moved. Kelly will be a free agent at the end of the season. No Joe Ryan (Minnesota Twins). No Sandy Alcantara (Miami Marlins). No Zac Gallen (Diamondbacks). Contenders such as the Mets, New York Yankees, and San Diego Padres loaded up their bullpens. Just as an example of the market, two high-ranking officials from rival teams said the cost for acquiring Alcantara, who's under contract through 2026 with a club option in 2027, was two top-five prospects, plus something else. Using the Mets as a guide, that meant two from the group of Nolan McLean, Brandon Sproat, Jonah Tong, Carson Benge and Jett Williams, plus another player. Would it have been worth it? Sticking with the Alcantara example, he is coming off surgery and though his results have been better recently, he has had an uneven season with rival teams wondering about his workload moving forward after missing all of last season. This isn't just about Alcantara. Other pitchers at the top of this market also had warts. Advertisement 'There are multiple ways to build a pitching staff,' Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said. 'We focused on the back end of the pitching staff, the bullpen. We're really happy with the arms we were able to acquire who are going to pitch out of our pen. And we have confidence, not only in the starters who are here, who we think are going to keep us competitive and help us win games, we are also pleased with the development of how some of the guys in Triple A are progressing.' If the Mets were going to acquire a starter, it was likely going to have to be someone they viewed as part of their playoff rotation. In Peterson, Manaea and Senga, the Mets probably have three playoff starters. Teams in the past have used a combination of starters and relievers to get through other games. Senga is coming off of a pair of poor starts. Manaea looked better in his last start but was still operating with limitations after missing most of the season. The upside of their rotation relies on Senga and Manaea being healthy and productive. If Senga and Manaea are who the Mets expect them to be, then the issue the Mets face in the rotation isn't about quality at the top. It's about logging enough innings and winning enough games to make the postseason without overloading the freshly revamped bullpen they just created. For the most part, the schedule works out in the Mets' favor; there are only two months left of the regular season. But the Mets will encounter a stretch of 16 straight games, starting in the middle of August. And either way, constantly getting fewer than five innings from starters by accident is not going to help. In particular, the Mets may need more from Holmes, the former late-inning reliever well beyond his previous career-high in innings, who hasn't completed six innings in a start since June 7. 'Clay, from a physical standpoint, is in really good shape, and I think the stuff, for the most part, has still been there,' Stearns said. 'We gotta get a little deeper into games. Clearly, Clay knows that. He's working hard to do that, and I think we'll be able to see it.' Advertisement The Mets didn't do much of any shopping for depth starters in part because they include Sproat and McLean as possible options if and when necessary. They're confident in both pitchers, but neither of them has ever pitched in the major leagues. It wouldn't be shocking to eventually see the Mets use either pitcher in a piggyback role, which would allow someone like Holmes to pitch less than six innings by design. The Mets don't seem committed to such a path quite yet. Thus, after surveying the landscape and considering all the factors, the Mets saw building an impressive bullpen as their best bet to their first World Series since 1986. It worked for the Los Angeles Dodgers last year. They rode their bullpen — going through the Mets in the process — throughout the playoffs. It may work for the Mets, too. They just need to get there first. (Photo of Merrill Kelly: Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images)
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
The moment David Wright became an ideal Mets role model for David Peterson
Access the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. Try it free David Peterson was in his first full season professionally, pitching for Single-A St. Lucie in 2018 when he received his first exposure to a Mets icon, attempting a comeback for his last hurrah. It was during those interactions with a rehabbing David Wright that Peterson received a crash course on determination. Peterson recalled arriving for a game in Clearwater, Fla., to find Wright already at the ballpark, exercising his lower back, which was compromised by spinal stenosis. 'He spent four hours getting ready to play three innings in a rehab game,' Peterson said Saturday prior to the Mets' 5-2 loss to the Reds. 'To look up to a guy like that and for him to want to do that in the condition that he was in, I have the utmost respect for him. I learned a lot in that small time to be a professional, the right way to go about things.' The Mets held a pregame ceremony on Saturday to retire Wright's No. 5. Wright, a former Mets captain, joined Tom Seaver, Mike Piazza, Jerry Koosman, Keith Hernandez, Willie Mays, Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry among players who have received the honor from the organization. Peterson is among the current Mets, along with Brandon Nimmo, Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil, who have a history with Wright. 'He's a guy that I looked up to and I think whether you played with him or not in the big leagues, his presence and the standard that he holds himself and others to is felt throughout the organization,' Peterson said. 'I am glad we're finally here and can celebrate the player and person that he is for the organization.' It's been a week of celebrations for Peterson, who on Tuesday represented the National League in the All-Star Game. Peterson pitched a scoreless inning in the NL's 7-6 victory that was decided by a home run hitting contest. CHECK OUT THE AND Peterson, who is scheduled to start Sunday against the Reds, called it an 'awesome' experience that was only heightened by the fact he got to share the moment with teammates Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz. One thing seems certain: Peterson's stock within the organization has never been higher. Once a spare part, the left-hander has become a key piece of the rotation, beginning with his availability every fifth or sixth day. Since returning in May of 2024 from hip surgery, Peterson has been a dependable arm for the Mets. He finished the first half this season with a team-best 109 innings pitched and will take a 3.06 ERA into his Sunday start. 'I always felt like that's what I wanted to be and that I was going to be able to get to it,' Peterson said. 'I think that was part of the frustration early on was mentally knowing what I was capable of, but not necessarily knowing that I was limited physically because it was pain and discomfort [in the hip] over time. It wasn't an acute thing where you are like, 'This is wrong.' 'Once we were kind of able to clean up some of the physical stuff and be able to physically see what I know I was mentally capable of … those two connect a lot better and it has been huge.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mets gets another All-Star thanks to Robbie Ray injury
The post Mets gets another All-Star thanks to Robbie Ray injury appeared first on ClutchPoints. The New York Mets dropped the first game of their doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles. Still, there was a silver lining: another Mets player is heading to the 2025 MLB All-Star Game. Mets left-hander David Peterson will step in for Robbie Ray, who is unavailable due to a scheduled start on Sunday. David Peterson earns his first All‑Star nod in his sixth big-league season. He owns a 6–4 record, a 3.06 ERA, and 93 strikeouts across 18 starts. He's delivered consistent outings and worked deep into games. His latest effort featured six strikeouts and just one run allowed over seven innings. The selection completes a comeback story. Peterson had offseason hip surgery and didn't have a guaranteed spot in the rotation. But he returned stronger and more efficient. He now ranks among the league's best ground-ball pitchers. His season highlight came in June with a complete-game shutout. David Peterson joins Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, and Edwin Díaz on the National League squad. This marks the first time since 2022 that the Mets will send four players to the MLB All-Star Game. Juan Soto remains a possible fifth if another player drops out due to injury. Still, not everyone in the Mets clubhouse is satisfied. Some players, including Brandon Nimmo, have questioned the All‑Star selection process. Nimmo criticized the 'one-player-per-team' rule. He believes it hurts deeper rosters and excludes more deserving players. Both he and Soto had strong first halves but missed the initial cut. Despite that, David Peterson's addition gives the Mets another boost. It underscores the team's depth and highlights the value of perseverance. His journey back from injury adds meaning to the selection. For fans, it's a rewarding moment. For the Mets, it's another sign that the club is finding its rhythm. With the MLB All-Star Game approaching, the Mets look more complete than ever, entering the second half with four All-Stars and renewed momentum. Related: Mets' Brandon Nimmo goes scorched earth on 'broken' All-Star system Related: Mets' Carlos Mendoza calls out offense after loss to Orioles
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mets vs Giants (7/26/25)
Starter David Peterson allowed just one run over six innings, Mark Vientos delivered a clutch two-run double and Pete Alonso made the defensive play of the game as the Mets edged the Giants 2-1.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Carlos Mendoza on Pete Alonso defense, Mark Vientos resurgence and David Peterson poise after Mets win
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza says that Pete Alonso "doesn't get enough credit for his defense" after his leaping grab in the ninth inning preserved the Mets' 2-1 win. Mendoza credited Mark Vientos for coming through with his two-run double after striking out with bases loaded earlier in the game. The manager was also impressed by the poise of David Peterson, who continued his All-Star caliber season.
