New York Mets: Mets’ path to improvement is incredibly daunting

Caught between a rock and a hard place

Monetary issues are real in Wilpon land. Ownership continues to cry poor despite playing in the biggest media market. Therefore New York Mets are unable to help themselves from getting, cheap, quick fixes for the team, instead of acquiring the actual best players. So, what do they do at the trade deadline, which is the other way they could get better?

Simply put, every team at the trade deadline should be either a buyer or a seller. The Mets could stay at or near their continuous treadmill of sub-mediocrity by doing neither. Then again, BVW might see if trading away prospects or young talent for new faces, and proven players could break them through. Or, he could realize this team is not playing well and get young talent for their players who provide little value to them going forward but can benefit other teams in contention.

The latter statement appears less likely. First, The higher-ups seem delusional enough they can win with this roster. Second, the Mets already made a deadline-esque move this offseason by making the Cano trade, which has backfired. Last, the Mets don’t have many assets worth giving up to even sell.

They have starter Zack Wheeler, who wouldn’t garner much of a return. To BVw’s chagrin, this year shapes up to be an unusually starting pitching-rich market. Then there is slugger Dominic Smith. His numbers at the plate are very good, almost all-star worthy, but they have come on a part-time basis.