The New York Mets sit at 26-34 on the season, which is far from expectations. The Mets have had their fair share of injuries and losses that shouldn’t have happened.
Right now, something feels off, and it seems like the team’s energy is starting to take a toll as well. Just last week, manager Carlos Mendoza hit the panic button.
“There’s so much I could sit here and say that we worry – we’ve got to go out and do it ourselves. We’re not putting ourselves in good positions. It’s not early anymore. Whatever I say here doesn’t matter, we’ve got to go out there and do it,” Mendoza told the media.
While this season may already be slipping away, there is still the possibility that a trade could spark a turnaround. A move for Rafael Devers could be the answer.
“The Mets have been a massive disappointment season, particularly on offense. Currently, they sit 13.5 games out of first place behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East. Instead of being sellers at the trade deadline, they could go into desperation mode and look to make a big splash move in an effort to turn things around. Money isn’t an issue for the team with the second-highest payroll in the league, and Devers would make a lot of sense for their lineup after moving on from Pete Alonso this offseason,” SI’s Mark Morales-Smith wrote.
One of the challenges in a potential Devers addition is that the Mets do not have a natural first baseman.
“The obvious question mark in this “two-man plan” is defense. Neither Polanco nor Vientos is a natural first baseman. Polanco has virtually no professional experience at the position, and Vientos has graded out poorly in the infield during his young career,” Empire Sports Media’s Alexander Wilson wrote.
Devers joining the Mets could open up several lineup possibilities. With Jorge Polanco dealing with injury issues this season, Devers could take on first base duties or a DH role, helping lighten the load.
Devers is on a massive $313 million contract, but that would not be anything new for the Mets. He also brings World Series experience and a veteran presence in the clubhouse. A proven hitter with multiple Silver Slugger awards, Devers would add much-needed urgency to a struggling Mets team.