Ten random thoughts on the current Mets

For those already burnt out on trade deadline talk

Right now, everything is about the trade deadline, which makes me chuckle. It’s not like the Mets have made any impact trades (well, for them) at the deadline in recent history, whether they’ve been a buyer or a seller. Why should it be different this time around? Here are players they’ve acquired recently:

2025 – Ryan Helsley, Cedric Mullins, Tyler Rogers, Gregory Soto
2024 – Paul Blackburn, Phil Maton, Ryne Stanek, Jesse Winker
2023 – Luisangel Acuna, Phil Bickford, Ryan Clifford, Coleman Crow, Chris Flexen, Drew Gilbert, Trevor Gott, Ronald Hernandez, Jeremiah Jackson, Justin Jarvis, Adam Kolarek, Landon Marceaux, Jeremy Rodriguez, Marco Vargas
2022 – Phillip Diel, Mychal Givens, Tyler Naquin, Michael Perez, Darin Ruf, Daniel Vogelbach
2021 – Javier Baez, Rich Hill, Mark Payton, Carlos Rincon, Trevor Williams

The first move of 2026 has come down, with the Mets getting two warm bodies who’ll fit in perfectly on the above list. Same as it ever was, same as it ever was!

So, instead of conjuring up fake trades or dreaming about who the Mets can acquire, here are 10 random stats/thoughts about the current team, in no particular order:

1. In his last 43 games and 163 PA, Francisco Alvarez is slashing .278/.362/.479 for an .841 OPS. That’ll do quite nicely moving forward.

2. Since the All-Star break, Carson Benge has a .597 OPS and A.J. Ewing has a .598 mark.

3. Zac Thornton has a 1.42 ERA in his last four starts, which came against the Phillies, Brewers, Braves and Red Sox, facing Boston in the middle of its 15-game winning streak.

4. Three pitchers for the Mets have a 0.00 ERA. Two have pitched one inning apiece, with one being a position player. The other is Daniel Duarte, who has 11.1 IP with 2 BB and 11 Ks.

5. Over his last 14 games, Francisco Lindor has a .964 OPS with a .297 BABIP. Eight of his 15 hits have gone for extra-bases and he has a 12.9 BB% in this span.

6. The contract means this won’t happen but Sean Manaea would be a better acquisition than Freddy Peralta for a team looking for a fourth starter.

7. Despite homering in back-to-back games, Marcus Semien still stinks. He’s gone 1-8 with 4 Ks since then.

8. Cionel Perez has pitched in 21 games for the Mets. In two of those, he’s given up seven runs. In the other 19 games, he’s allowed 5 ER in 24.1 IP, good for a 1.85 ERA.

9. Mark me as ambivalent – in the dictionary definition of the term – about Bo Bichette potentially opting out of his contract. On one hand, he’s rebounded nicely after an ultra-lousy start. On the other hand, that $42 million could be easily spent elsewhere.

10. The Mets fired Carlos Mendoza after a six-game losing streak that dropped the team to 34-47. Too bad they didn’t fire him after a 12-game losing streak earlier in the season. The team has played a tougher schedule since Andy Green took over. However, Green’s winning percentage is .448, compared to a .420 mark for Mendoza.