It seems like a virtual lock that the New York Mets will trade for at least one reliever.
In a win-now year, the Mets have struggled of late to find the right high-leverage formula in front of closer Edwin Díaz. If they could bring in someone to lock down the eighth inning, everything else might naturally fall into place.
Typically, relievers aren’t hard to come by at the deadline. But they’re also extremely volatile, so you have to hit on the choice you make to come out on top.
One Mets writer believes New York should go after a Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander having an unexpected career year–one who also spent a brief stint in 2023 with the Mets.
On Tuesday, Tim Boyle of FanSided named Pirates reliever Dennis Santana as a top prospective trade target for the Mets’ bullpen ahead of the Jul. 31 deadline.
“Through 38 innings, Santana has a magnificent 1.42 ERA,” Boyle wrote. “Is it all a mirage? Considering he had a 2.44 ERA in 44.1 frames for the Pirates last year, one might start to believe someone taught him a valuable lesson to tap into whatever’s working so well.
Follow The Sporting News On WhatsApp
“A ground ball pitcher for much of his career, he seems to fit the mold well in that regard for what the Mets like from their pitchers. He doesn’t have fantastic strikeout numbers or anything. Relying on his slider for a good majority of his pitches, Santana has become an intriguing trade candidate because of how dominant it has been.”
Santana has been shockingly good, which might surprise some Mets fans, while others will forget he ever played for that forgettable 2023 squad. He hasn’t allowed an earned run since Jun. 3, a span of 12 appearances, so it seems like he’s itching to ditch the Pirates.
A bonus? Santana is making a paltry $1.4 million this season, and he’s under control through arbitration in 2026 as well.
More MLB: Mets proposed blockbuster brings Royals All-Star back to New York
