The 2024 New York Mets appeared set to be major sellers at this year’s trade deadline, but a strong performance led by Grimace and “OMG” has brought them back to .500 (45-45) and within 1.5 games of the final wild-card spot.
Despite their recent success, the Mets bullpen has struggled, with Drew Smith, Brooks Raley, and Grant Hartwig among those lost or underperforming, resulting in a July ERA of 10.57.
To bolster their bullpen, president of baseball operations David Stearns made a move on Monday, acquiring Phil Maton from the Tampa Bay Rays. Maton, who signed a one-year, $6.5 million contract with the Rays this offseason, has had a challenging season with a 4.58 ERA in 35.1 innings across 40 appearances, along with 30 strikeouts and a 1.330 WHIP.
Recent outings have shown improvement, however, with Maton allowing only one earned run in his last 11 appearances. Stearns expressed optimism about Maton’s potential, citing adjustments that have led to improved performance recently.
The acquisition of Maton represents a low-risk, high-reward opportunity for the Mets. If the 31-year-old can maintain his recent form, the move could prove to be a significant addition. If not, the Mets have only risked financial resources, minimizing the impact on the organization. Time will tell how Maton integrates into the Mets bullpen, but the move could ultimately be a savvy decision by Stearns and his team.
