Scouts, executives weigh in on David Stearns' first trade deadline with the Mets (2024)

NEW YORK — Evaluators from rival teams applauded New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns for staying disciplined in a trade market lacking stars, though they described the club’s additions as merely minor improvements.

At least a handful of executives across the industry, including Stearns, referred to the prospect cost as “aggressive” for the few high-impact players who were seemingly available at the trade deadline, which was Tuesday. At his introductory press conference last October, Stearns said he wanted to compete for the playoffs in 2024, and wanted to do so in a way that wouldn’t detract from the future. After the trade deadline, the Mets (57-51) sit 1/2 a game behind for the final wild-card spot.

“What’s funny is I was reading up on (the Mets’) trades and thought to myself, ‘This is the reason Stearns was hired,’” a rival scout said. “Very measured and no panic to make the big splash. He has stayed true to his vision and to what he believes is his timeline. It could have been very easy for him to go to (owner Steve Cohen) and request money for someone like Blake Snell, assuming the $30 million next year, but that would also mean giving up prospects which he was not willing to do, obviously.

“I think the guys he got are marginal upgrades, but the guys he gave up won’t come back to bite him and he has powder dry for this offseason when I expect more moves from him.”

As The Athletic reported last week, the Mets refrained from trading any of their top prospects while supplementing their roster. Their additions: right-handed relievers Phil Maton, Ryne Stanek, Huascar Brazobán and Tyler Zuber; left-handed batting outfielder Jesse Winker; and right-handed starting pitcher Paul Blackburn. How much better do they make the Mets?

The Mets acquired help at positions of weakness. They especially needed to address their bullpen and add a starting pitcher in the wake of injuries to Christian Scott and Kodai Senga. Adding a solid left-handed bat in Winker helped improve their situation in right field, where they are missing Starling Marte (knee) and were getting minimal production from left-handed batter DJ Stewart, who has since been optioned to Triple A.

On the pitching side, scouts and executives liked the idea of adding veterans Maton and Stanek for minimal costs (they will send cash or a player to be named to the Tampa Bay Rays for Maton while taking on his salary and moved minor-league outfielder Rhylan Thomas for Stanek) in a market that placed a high value on relief help. As The Athletic suggested last week, it would have been surprising for the Mets to land one of the best rental relievers, considering the cost. Evaluators said ending up with Stanek and Maton should help because both have shown in the past that they are capable of becoming leading relievers on a contending club.

Scouts were high on Brazobán (2.84 ERA, 31 2/3 innings), whom the Mets acquired from the Miami Marlins for minor-league utility infielder Wilfredo Lara. One evaluator described Brazobán, 34, as a “late bloomer who has improved a lot in the last two years.” Another evaluator called Brazobán’s changeup a “plus-plus pitch.”

Brazobán’s age and lack of track record concerned some evaluators and they didn’t expect him to be a big-impact reliever. But one said he could become an elite leverage reliever if the Mets help him figure out which pitches to deploy in certain situations. At the least, an executive surmised, Brazobán raises the floor for the Mets’ middle innings by offering a distinct look with his sinker/changeup combination.

For evaluators, Zuber is a wild card. One person said Zuber’s stuff “jumps off the page,” but there’s no telling what to expect from a 29-year-old who has logged just 3 1/3 innings in the majors since 2021 while spending a brief period in an independent league. Scouts cited command issues, but said Zuber can get right-handed batters out with his low-slot delivery. In the context of relievers sometimes emerging out of seemingly nowhere, one person said, “It’s not crazy to think he can be something, if not really good.”

Evaluators shared mixed feelings about Blackburn (4.41 ERA in 51 innings in 2024; 4.83 ERA over his eight-year career). One simply said, “I’m out on him.” Another called the veteran a “really nice back-of-the-rotation piece on a playoff squad who is a strike-thrower with quantity over quality in the stuff.” Multiple people said Blackburn is a “strong competitor” who cares.

In the case of Blackburn, 30, the Mets needed to add someone to at least help them cover innings, but they also lack a true top starter, though Luis Severino, Jose Quintana and Sean Manaea have collectively mostly pitched well. Blackburn also comes with club control through next season, and the Mets’ rotation will have holes to fill then. At best, scouts said, Blackburn is a “solid innings-eater” and an “overachiever in the back end.” Though helpful, that’s not exactly exciting.

Hence why when asked about Blackburn, one person replied with a yawn emoji.

Another said Blackburn was “a Kyle Hendricks type.”

Winker, though, drew some exclamation points. As one evaluator said, “Winker gives them someone who can really have a quality at-bat against relief pitching — yes!” Scouts hated Winker’s defense and questioned how viable he would be in right field (he has appeared in right field for only 21 1/3 innings since 2022). But they loved how the 30-year-old improved his speed and conditioning while continuing his hallmarks as a hitter who gets on base and doesn’t chase, which has led to a productive all-around season (.792 OPS, 11 home runs, 14 stolen bases).

Regarding the group of prospects the Mets traded, scouts like right-hander Kade Morris the best. The Mets traded Morris to the Oakland Athletics for Blackburn. Baseball America ranked all 89 prospects traded at the deadline, and the highest ranking from the Mets was right-hander Tyler Stuart (traded for Winker) at 35. Morris was 41, followed by right-hander Paul Gervase (75), outfielder Rhylan Thomas (82) and Lara (86). Lara was the only prospect in Keith Law’s preseason top 20 in the organization to be dealt. Scouts liked Morris — the Mets chose him in the third round in 2023 — the most because they see him as a potential starting pitcher in the majors.

But as one executive said, “In what was a sellers’ market, as a team trying to make the playoffs, you should take that price and be fine with it.”

(Photo of Huascar Brazobán: Jim McIsaac / Getty Images)