What the Mets' roster could like like on August 1
Everybody wants to go on a big spree to overhaul the MLB roster for the Mets, whether that’s promoting top prospects or trading for proven veterans. And that’s okay. Yet it should be done with the understanding of what’s likely to be the club’s roster come August 1. While it’s mostly on the pitching side, the 26-man roster will be different a month from now than it does today.
Perhaps it’s optimistic/naïve to expect everyone currently on the IL to make it back and also not to have additional injuries strike the club. If/when either of those situations occur, the front office can act accordingly. But let’s plan on nothing catastrophic happening in the next month. Here’s what the rotation will look like:
Kodai Senga
Sean Manaea
David Peterson
Clay Holmes
Frankie Montas
Paul Blackburn/Tylor Megill
That’s not perfect but it’s a whole lot better than throwing Blade Tidwell out there. David Stearns invested in Frankie Montas and he probably deserves the benefit of the doubt, at least right this moment. Megill was certainly serviceable before winding up on the IL. Yet two questions remain: 1. How committed is the club to Blackburn? 2. Would they carry both Blackburn and Megill on the roster at the same time, assuming the five starters above them are all healthy?
It’s my opinion that Blackburn is on thin ice. My guess it that the Mets won’t carry both of these potential sixth starters at the same time, especially as they won’t need to run a full six-man rotation the rest of the way. Do you want two guys in the pen who are a giant question mark and who likely won’t be able to pitch on back-to-back days? Megill has been erratic but he has numerous good starts on his ledger here in 2025. Blackburn has one. Sure, Megill has had more chances to shine. But time is ticking and Blackburn needs to produce ASAP. The easiest thing to do would be to keep Blackburn and option Megill. But easy doesn’t necessarily mean correct.
Here’s the potential bullpen:
Edwin Diaz
Dedniel Nunez
Reed Garrett
Brooks Raley
Jose Butto
Ryne Stanek
Huascar Brazoban/Brandon Waddell/Austin Warren
So much depends on Nunez’ ability to be the pitcher he was last year, followed by Raley being able to be the pitcher he was for the Mets before getting hurt. Nunez was terrific in 2024 and that guy is the shutdown eighth-inning pitcher the club needs. If Nunez fills that role, every other pitcher moves down in the pecking order.
Raley doesn’t have to be a situational lefty, although he’d certainly be used that way against teams with a tough lefty batter or three in the lineup, like the Phillies. There are big question marks around both Garrett and Brazoban after both got off to terrific starts. Stanek has been pitching better after a mini rough patch, so perhaps he becomes a higher-leverage reliever than Garrett in the short term.
Brazoban needs to focus on throwing strikes. Is that best done with the top pitching coaches in the majors or in a lower-pressure environment in the minors? It’s not easy to answer. My opinion is that the Mets would be best-served by using Brazoban in a low-leverage role in the majors, going back to him pitching multiple innings in blowouts. And with an option remaining, they can use the Syracuse shuttle with Brazoban, Waddell and Warren – if need be.
Only seven relievers are mentioned above, as the assumption is that the Mets will go with a 5.5 starting rotation, with the sixth starter bouncing back and forth between starting and relieving. Going at least half a reliever short in the pen will necessitate the return of the multi-inning reliever. The Mets have Butto for that role, along with the quasi-starter and the seventh-reliever de jour.
Offensively, the only IL move is to activate Jesse Winker, with the corresponding move of designating Travis Jankowski for assignment. There’s also the possibility of optioning Ronny Mauricio, instead. Yet it seems that Mauricio has much more offensive upside than Jankowski. Versus RHP, Mauricio has a .275/.339/.490 line. It seems that an .829 OPS in 56 PA against righties is not something that the hitting-challenged Mets should be so eager to dismiss.
Of course, there’s also the promotion of Francisco Alvarez, who hopefully comes back with better results than he had before the demotion.
If Stearns wants to acquire a top starter to replace the Blackburn/Megill combo and move others down – great! If he wants to trade for a top reliever to replace the Brazoban/Waddell/Warren trio – super! But that’s a different animal than the moves around the margin he made last year at the deadline. If there are going to be changes to what’s listed above – let’s pull for something more dynamic than Phil Maton.
And if Stearns imports a hitter to upgrade 3B or CF, then Mauricio is likely the one to go to make room, whether that’s to the minors or as part of the trade to get the upgrade. No one should consider Mauricio untouchable in trades. But if they do include him, it should be for a bigger bat than someone with an OPS+ in the 95-105 range.
I pretty much agree with your assessment that Stearns is unlikely to shift too many pieces around at the trade deadline. Frankly I'll expect more Phil Maton/Jesse Winker/Brazoban types to be added like last year. Fringe players with upside. The expanded playoffs certainly complicate who is considered out of the running, but it also increases competition for the few guys available for trades. An overpayment is unlikely from the Mets but other teams could outbid if they are desperate enough. I'd like to think we've learned our lesson that trading away blue chip prospects like Crow Armstrong for flameouts like Baez isn't in the Mets long-term interests.
Feels like every team—hot, hungry, and even more motivated—has been looking at the Mets like it’s a tee-ball scenario. (Excluding the Brewers with plus from last year and plus motivation the payroll restriction their manager tells everyone about) I’ve honestly been wondering how the Mets managed to carry such a high winning percentage into June. I hope this stretch of getting slaughtered ends soon.
Of course, having two legitimate stoppers in the rotation is every team’s first wish.
If we go out and buy a third baseman, does that mean we’re selling low on Vientos—or Baty, if not both? Maybe their baseline in 2026 is to platoon as DHs? Plus, there's always the chance one starts somewhere else. Tong?
I’d prioritize the long-term confidence of both Tong and McLean. And if the Eastern League has playoffs, I’d love to see the Rumble Ponies dominate—with Tong showing a full season’s consistency under the limelight: high-leverage situations, bigger media attention, all of it. The Yankees have always emphasized winning at the minor league level—season titles and all. I'd like to see that approach here, too.
I don’t know if Tong is from a small Canadian town or a Toronto suburb. I’d like to be measured in my expectations. Whatever decision the brass makes will come after serious discussion. (That said, he’s never even thrown a pitch in Triple-A.)