MET STREAK
Adding Stroman was huge, but Mets could have used relief, too
CHICAGO – When everyone else zigs, Brodie Van Wagenen zags. The Mets GM set the tone for the pitching market three days before the trade deadline when he added Marcus Stroman to an already dominant rotation. He disposed of Jason Vargas to the division-rival Phillies and saved $2 million in the process.
The league expected the Mets to sell either Zack Wheeler, Noah Syndergaard or Edwin Diaz to fill necessary holes in the bullpen. Instead, Van Wagenen clutched the strength of his starting five and didn't see a deal good enough to let anyone go. After the Stroman acquisition and the Vargas jettison, the Mets were quiet on Wednesday as the trade deadline passed at 4 p.m.
What does all of that say about the state of the team? It means the Mets (51-55) have already considered themselves “got” by the National League East. The Amazin's have gone from the top dogs to underdogs in a matter of four months. Now, their only shot at contention in 2019 is chasing the Braves, Nationals and Phillies – three teams that used the deadline to significantly upgrade their rosters with relief depth and, in turn, placed themselves further apart from the Mets.
But all of that is OK for the firstyear GM. Van Wagenen's master plan did not involve selling the team he has now and rebuilding. His “win now and win in the future” mission only goes as far as 2020. Since Van Wagenen receives his directives from the Mets owners, everyone not named Jeff or Fred Wilpon understands that the Mets have yet to prove they carry the necessary ingredients to make a run for it in the next year and a half.
“We ultimately weren't interested in rental players. We were interested in moves that could impact us in 2019, but also in 2020,” Van Wagenen said. “Marcus was
our focus, we were able to reach closure on that earlier rather than later, and it allowed us to really be in a position of strength.”
No doubt, the Mets are over the moon about their acquisition of Stroman. He stabilizes a frightening rotation that includes Jacob deGrom, Syndergaard, Wheeler and Steven Matz. With the exception of Wheeler, who has made just one start since the All-Star break, that group has a combined ERA of 1.52 in the second half. Their tasks include staying consistent and pitching deep into games. But if they can't accomplish the latter, the Mets chances of making the postseason in 2019 are dramatically lower.
The Mets bullpen had a putrid first half. The relief corps has since held a 3.29 ERA with four saves, 26 walks and 51 strikeouts after the All-Star break, the fourth-lowest bullpen ERA in MLB and secondlowest in the NL in that time. Only the Giants (3.07) have a lower mark in the second half. Granted, Mets relievers have faced the average lineups of the Marlins, Giants, Padres, Pirates and White Sox in that span. The group will be put to the test when the Mets play the resurrected Nationals on August 9 at Citi Field.
“We felt like getting the starting pitcher in this market place was going to be more valuable than getting the relief pitchers,” Van Wagenen said. “Our bullpen has had its challenges at times, but we believe in the guys that are there, and we're glad that we can go forward with the team we had. Short version, we prioritized the starting pitcher over the bullpen.”
By neglecting to add depth in the bullpen or replenish a Mets bench that lost Dominic Smith to a stress reaction in his left foot at least until September, Van Wagenen zagged when everyone else zigged. He's satisfied with the elite arm of Stroman. But the question remains, is anyone else?