By Ryan “The Goose” Gosiker
At the start of every baseball season, the trade deadline feels so far away it becomes an afterthought. However, here we are, less than a week before the deadline that can turn a season around or signal to fans that 2025 maybe the year to compete. Both New York teams have had intriguing seasons to date. The Yankees were the best team in baseball and the fastest to 50 wins. They have stumbled since and limped into the All-Star break. The Mets played as poorly as humanly possible in May and currently own a bullpen that leaves no lead entirely safe. The offense has produced and been productive while the starters have carried their own without their ace, Kodai Senga. He is scheduled to pitch against the Atlanta Braves this weekend at home for his 1st big league action since the 2023 season. Their bullpen has been and will continue to be their achilles heel. Brian Cashman and David Stearns have an interesting set of circumstances in front of them come the July 30th, 6:00 PM trade deadline. Cashman is looking at scenarios of needing 1-2 hitters, 1-2 bullpen arms, and potentially, a starter. Several players have underachieved to this point in the season including Trent Grisham, Jose Trevino, DJ LeMahieu, Alex Verdugo, Anthony Volpe, and others. Giancarlo Stanton is returning from injury with Jason Dominguez on the horizon at some point. The question becomes, what assets does Brian Cashman have and what is available on the market? There is a sense that they could roll the dice by just adding a piece and hoping guys return to their career averages at some point this season. For the Mets, they need bullpen arms, but not at the cost of highly rated prospects as this was supposed to be a reset season to allow young players to develop, spend big next free agency, and look forward to 2025. Now, they have played themselves into a race for the 3rd wild card spot. Certainly the “trade everyone” mantra from May is gone, but this team cannot afford to sacrifice the long-term future. This is the mental battle David Stearns is facing as he prepares for the deadline. Expect him to buy low on arms and hope they work for this team to make a run. They have a solid mix of young newcomers contributing and veterans continuing to ascend. Their biggest question mark is the backend of the bullpen. They do need their 3 and 4 hitters to get going to in JD Martinez and Pete Alonso. Neither has been special this season. They have not strung together long stretches of great play. The time is now for both NY franchises to make moves and playing meaningful baseball into September. Check out my sports show: “Game Time with The Goose” every Saturday from 8:00 to 9:00 AM on WTBQ AM 1110 FM 93.5 and on WGHT Radio with co-host Zach Kruk, Sports Director of WTBQ and WGHT!
