SAN FRANCISCO — The New York Mets’ acquisition of reliever Gregory Soto on Friday was a good start. His presence gives them a much-needed additional lefty. However, more work remains to be done in upgrading the bullpen.
With a handful of days remaining before the July 31 trade deadline, the Mets should further improve their bullpen by adding someone to complement All-Star closer Edwin Díaz. That means trading for someone adept at closing when Díaz is unavailable, or for when situations dictate that Díaz appears earlier in a game than the ninth inning.
The next couple of days are pivotal regarding a search for such a profile (they’re vital for finding help anywhere, for that matter). Some bubble teams are waiting until at least the end of the weekend to declare their intentions.
For instance, Ryan Helsley is a reliever the Mets have expressed some interest in, but they’ve yet to have any discussions about him with the St. Louis Cardinals (54-52), league sources said. That is merely one example, which doesn’t mean much on an individual level at this juncture; the Mets are interested in a number of relievers.
In the Mets’ 2-1 win over the San Francisco Giants on Saturday, things went according to plan. David Peterson pitched six strong innings. From there, the Mets used Reed Garrett, Ryne Stanek and Díaz, in that order, for an inning apiece to close it out (despite Díaz allowing a double and three hard-hit balls).
It won’t always be that smooth.
Speculatively, there is a batch of bullpen arms who could become available if their teams further stumble out of contention or, in other cases, simply decide to cash in on interest. The industry is monitoring Pete Fairbanks (Tampa Bay Rays) and Kenley Jansen (Los Angeles Angels), to name just a few.
Ryan Helsley, who has 21 saves and a 3.00 ERA, stands out as an intriguing trade possibility. (Dilip Vishwanat / Getty Images)
Meanwhile, the asking prices for other high-end relievers like the Pittsburgh Pirates’ David Bednar (not a free agent until after the 2026 season) appear high, according to officials from multiple rival clubs.
It is not a given that the Mets land such a reliever. However, it is the next sensible place they should explore, considering they deemed upgrading their bullpen a priority.
While the Mets are checking in on relievers with club control and rentals, Díaz’s ability to opt out next season is not something they are considering when looking for ways to improve before the trade deadline, people briefed on their plans said. Generally, they view such situations as offseason issues, and plenty can change over the next couple of months. Judging from Díaz’s outstanding numbers (1.55 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 62 strikeouts), it is something the Mets will need to face down the road.
Regardless, it is worthwhile adding a strong set-up reliever for the rest of the regular season and the playoffs.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza operated carefully with Díaz’s usage earlier in the season and has since deployed him more aggressively. Among the 11 relievers with at least 20 saves, Díaz (22 saves) has pitched the fifth-fewest innings (41 2/3). He is on pace for 63 innings and 62 appearances. Last season, his first since knee surgery wiped out his 2023 season, he logged 53 2/3 innings and 54 games. So he hasn’t topped 60 in either category since 2022.
Díaz buys into whatever the team needs him to do. Thus, when it matters most, Mendoza uses him. In the playoffs last season, the Mets summoned Díaz six times. Within those appearances, he pitched more than one inning four times. This season, Díaz has entered a game in the eighth inning seven times. So far in July, he has done it four times.
Díaz has said repeatedly in recent weeks that he feels strong, and the results support him. He has not allowed a run since June 2, a span of 16 scoreless appearances. At the end of games, he is an ace. Why not add to the strength to make sure his efforts aren’t wasted when he appears before the ninth inning of close games?
The Mets did a good job landing Soto from the Baltimore Orioles; there may not be other notable lefty reliever options in the trade market. To get him, New York parted with minor-league pitchers Wellington Aracena and Cameron Foster. Though Aracena is 20 years old and multiple levels away from the major leagues, it was not easy for Mets officials to part with him. But they knew they needed Soto for the rest of the regular season and beyond. He is elite at getting left-handed batters out, though he has struggled more this season than usual against right-handed batters.
Consider Soto’s career numbers against left-handed batters from National League teams on pace to make the playoffs. Aside from the San Francisco Giants’ Rafael Devers, Soto has fared well (minimum two plate appearances against him).
Soto vs. LHBs on probable playoff teams
Luis Arráez
0-for-9, 1 BB, 1K
Shohei Ohtani
0-for-5, 1 BB, 3 Ks
Christian Yelich
1-for-7, 2 Ks
Freddie Freeman
1-for-3, 1 HR, 1 K
Rafael Devers
6-for-11, 1 HR, 2 2Bs, 3 Ks
Kyle Schwarber
0-for-2, 1 K
“It starts off with a positive mindset of, that’s my job, to get lefties out,” Soto said through interpreter Alan Suriel after arriving midgame. “So I go out there with the confidence that I am supposed to have.”
Will the Mets similarly stomach a cost to require an expert high-leverage reliever to set up Díaz? It will certainly require more than the return to Soto. The answer remains to be seen.
Without a player like that, the Mets can continue to lean on the relievers they already have in such a role. Among the options are Garrett, Brooks Raley, Huascar Brazoban and Stanek. Soto is perhaps another; a two-time All-Star, he offers closing experience. When Díaz has pitched the eighth inning or hasn’t been available, Mendoza has called on Garrett, Stanek and Brazoban. Sometimes it has worked. Sometimes it hasn’t. It might be enough.
To get where the Mets want to go, however, they should not stop there.
(Top photo of Edwin Díaz: Al Bello / Getty Images)