Add The New York Post on Google CLEVELAND — Six trades later, the Mets makeover is finished.
The organization’s final tally as Monday’s 6 p.m. trade deadline passed was seven players jettisoned over five days and 11 prospects imported. If nothing else, president of baseball operations David Stearns was active in overhauling a roster that has been MLB’s most disappointing this season.
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Such is life for a team that assembled a $380 million payroll for this season but has cratered to a 47-66 record and last place standing in the National League East.
Any hopes of a revival were dashed with a plunge into the abyss in late June that forced manager Carlos Mendoza’s firing. It left the Mets as sellers at the trade deadline for the second time in four seasons.
“I believe it was the right thing to do given where we are in this season to make these decisions,” Stearns said on a video call. “These are not easy decisions, and our goal is to move the organization forward in the best way possible to ensure that we have a far better season next and each season beyond.”
On a whirlwind Monday, the Mets completed their final four deals of the trade season involving major league players. The two most noteworthy trades occurred in the late afternoon: Clay Holmes and Tyrone Taylor were dealt for the Cubs’ No. 2 prospect, infielder Jefferson Rojas. It followed the trade that sent Luke Weaver to Pittsburgh for the Pirates’ No. 9 prospect, infielder Sammy Stafura. The Mets are sending about $8 million to the Pirates as part of the deal.
Earlier in the day, the Mets traded Huascar Brazobán and Brooks Raley to the White Sox and Phillies, respectively. From the White Sox, the Mets acquired Chicago’s No. 18 prospect Gabe Davis, a right-handed pitcher, and Zach Franklin, an unranked right-handed pitcher. From the Phillies the Mets acquired Philadelphia’s No. 27 prospect, outfielder John Spikerman, and right-handed pitcher Luke Gabrysh, an unranked prospect.
A day earlier the Mets traded Freddy Peralta to the Rays for outfielder Aidan Smith, right-handed pitcher Gary Gill Hill and infielder Émilien Pitre. Those three players ranked as the Nos. 15, 26 and 27 Rays prospects.
Stearns acknowledged the difficult decisions the Mets faced in trading Weaver and Brazobán, both of whom were under club control for next season. The rest of the players dealt are set to hit free agency after this season.
“Really tough decisions there, and not straight forward,” Stearns said. “We had a lot of internal discussion and debate. Ultimately, the returns we were able to get we thought made sense in the best interest of the organization, recognizing that at this time of year you are often able to get really good talent back for relief pitching. We understand we’re going to have to go out and acquire relievers in the offseason in different ways to get our bullpen back to where we expect it to be in 2027.”
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The Mets looked to trade veteran outfielder Luis Robert Jr., according to a source, but a deal never materialized for the veteran outfielder, who has spent most of this season on the injured list. Robert’s contract, which is paying him $20 million this season, has a club option for 2027.
“I think with Luis, it’s the possibility of what he can do for us in the second half, the understanding that there is a club option and the excitement of still having him here for the next few months of the season,” Stearns said.
Five of the 11 players the Mets acquired were infielders, but Stearns said that course wasn’t dictated by design.
“I think our approach was what’s the best talent?” he said. “It’s so difficult to know exactly what roles you are going to need at the major league level at any point in time and so our approach was really, what’s the best talent? Who are the players that we think have the ability to be the best major league players?”
