The New York Mets' primary target as the Aug. 1 trade deadline approaches is to add another bullpen arm, reports Mike Puma of the New York Post.
The Mets are more than pleased with the performance of closer Jeurys Familia and set-up man Addison Reed, so they are not necessarily in the market for a top-shelf reliever.
“But names such as San Diego’s Ryan Buchter and Brad Hand could appeal to the Mets, along with Oakland’s John Axford and Atlanta’s Chris Withrow,” writes Puma. “If the Mets wanted to make a play on another team’s closer, Milwaukee’s Jeremy Jeffress could be a possibility.”
Any additional arm could complement seventh-inning relievers Jerry Blevins and Hansel Robles. The biggest disappointment has been Antonio Bastardo, who owns a 1.45 WHIP after signing a two-year, $12 million deal over the winter.
ESPN’s Buster Olney suggests general manager Sandy Alderson could also look to add another starter to their injury-plagued staff. “Matt Harvey's season is over, Zack Wheeler's progress from Tommy John surgery has stalled, and nobody knows how many more starts or innings Steven Matz will generate before he has surgery for a bone spur. The Mets could use some rotation depth, even if it's for one of the lesser options available,” Olney writes.
Any blockbuster deal seems unlikely since the Mets have few high-end prospects available.
