New York Mets general manager Billy Eppler, right, speaks while pitcher Justin Verlander looks on during a baseball news conference at Citi Field, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, in New York. The team introduced Verlander after they agreed to a $86.7 million, two-year contract. It’s part of an offseason spending spree in which the Mets have committed $476.7 million on seven free agents. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
In theory, six weeks is a long enough stretch where the New York Mets could turn things around and resemble the World Series contender they were supposed to be heading into the 2023 season.
But these Mets seemingly can’t get out of their own way, finding new and mystifying ways to lose ballgames in a season that is projected to be one of the most disappointing campaigns ever in the franchise’s 61-year history.
New York had won just one of its last eight series while going 8-15 since May 23 — most recently dropping two of three to the struggling St. Louis Cardinals over the weekend at Citi Field. Entering Monday night’s series opener against the defending champion Houston Astros, the Mets are five games under .500, sit in fourth place in the National League East 12.5 games back of the Atlanta Braves, and have just a 12.6% chance to make the postseason.
At this point, it’s a spectacular failure of general manager Billy Eppler to have a roster riddled with holes despite owning the largest payroll in Major League Baseball history — and logic suggests that MLB’s trade deadline in six weeks (Aug. 1) is the last chance to save his job if it isn’t already set in stone that he won’t return.
Pair that with preseason expectations and it would be surprising to see the Mets act as sellers at the deadline.
Here we take our first look at the Mets inching toward the 2023 MLB trade deadline.
What do the Mets need?
Starting pitching
The Mets are still desperate for legitimate starting pitching despite making the biggest free-agent signing of the winter…
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