Will they buy or will they sell?
That was the question surrounding the future of the Mets as the team quickly approached the trade deadline. After a press conference earlier this month in which owner Steve Cohen indicated that he wouldn’t be afraid to pull the plug on his high-payroll team if they didn’t turn things around, it appears that things are finally coming to a head as the league approaches the Aug. 1 trade deadline.
New York traded reliever David Robertson to the division rival Marlins in exchange for two prospects: infielder Marco Vargas and catcher Ronald Hernandez. The 38-year-old Robertson, who was considered to be one of the top relievers available on the market, has posted a 2.05 ERA in 40 appearances this season, converting on 14 of his 17 save opportunities and picking up seven holds. He has also struck out 48 batters and notched a 1.00 WHIP.
The Mets are 48–54 on the season, a far cry from the division contending team that they were supposed to be. New York is done in the NL East, sitting 17 games out with two months to play, and are seven games out of a wild card spot.
Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer could be a couple of other big pieces to be moved from the starting rotation amid the team’s unexpected struggles this season.
With Aug. 1 fast approaching, it appears that the Robertson trade is the start of the Mets finally waving the white flag on 2023.
