The number of scouts present at Citi Field during this homestand has been steadily increasing, reaching a total of 11 on Tuesday night. It was a game that professionals in the industry love to watch this time of year, as it featured two teams that are likely to sell players. Both the underachieving White Sox and Mets have made their intentions known to potential suitors, although the Mets may wait until closer to the August 1 deadline to make a decision. They are leaving room for a potential comeback and will delay their choice of whether to buy, sell, or do both until July 29. The Mets’ victory over the White Sox, with a score of 11-10, helped to fuel the long-shot “Why Can’t This Be 1973 Again?” movement. However, even in 2023, the win was not without its fair share of angst and boos from the home crowd, particularly directed at Trevor Gott, a recent acquisition who struggled in the seventh inning. Francisco Alvarez, on the other hand, showed promise with two two-run homers, solidifying his role as a cornerstone for the Mets’ future. Despite Alvarez’s success, Mr. Met may have a better chance of being traded in the next two weeks.
It is still possible that the Mets will hold onto all their players, even if they fail to make significant progress towards a wild-card spot in the next 10 days. They may choose to hope for a late surge or simply focus on selling tickets for the remainder of the season. However, the market for trades seems to be quite active, with numerous contenders in the mix. The Mets have already spent a significant amount on payroll this year, and while they may not spend as much as other organizations, a motivated seller could still expect elevated prices for their players. The main point of intrigue for the Mets is whether owner Steve Cohen will be willing to take on substantial salaries, such as Max Scherzer or Justin Verlander, in exchange for promising prospects. However, even if they only trade players in the final year of their contracts, such as Tommy Pham, Brooks Raley, and David Robertson, the Mets may see it as a worthwhile move. They could even consider re-signing Robertson in the offseason to potentially pair him with Edwin Diaz in 2024. It remains to be seen what kind of return the Mets could get by packaging Pham and Robertson together.
Other teams, such as the Yankees, Rangers, and Phillies, who are also vying for playoff spots, could be interested in acquiring players like Pham and Robertson. Pham has consistently performed well throughout the season, both offensively and defensively. Many scouts in attendance on Tuesday were primarily interested in seeing Lucas Giolito, the most enticing walk-year player for the White Sox. However, Pham’s contributions were instrumental in the Mets’ victory, as he had a double, stole a base, and drew two walks. Raley, Ottavino, and Robertson, all potential trade pieces, also contributed to limiting the White Sox to just one run. Raley even helped clean up Gott’s mess in the seventh inning, preventing the Mets from blowing their seven-run lead.
While the Mets may still hold out hope for a miraculous turnaround, the scouts present at the game are more focused on identifying pieces that can benefit teams in contention. The Mets are in a position to improve their future by strengthening their farm system, particularly in terms of pitching. As a result, the number of scouts keeping an eye on them is growing. It is expected that there will be a considerable presence of scouts at Verlander’s game on Wednesday. Mets manager Buck Showalter acknowledges that some players may be traded as the deadline approaches.
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