MLB: Armando deadline for perfect changes for Mets and Phillies

New York and Philadelphia dispute the domain of the east of the national. This must be done on the deadline of the exchanges next week.

The rivalry between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies has a lot of history. The distance between Citi Field and Citizens Bank Park is approximately 116 miles (186 kilometers). Both teams have competed for the East Division of the National League since 1969. Star players, from TUG McGraw to Jerry Koosman, Lenny Dykstra, Pedro Martínez and Zack Wheeler, have played for both franchises. The Mets fans hate the fanatic, and those of the Phillies laugh at Mr. Met.

Despite their longevity, they have rarely faced a division title in the same season. The only years ended up in the first and second place or fought for the leadership of the division at the end of the season:

1986: Mets ended with 21.5 advantage games
2001: Both teams ended six games from Los Braves
2006: Mets ended with 12 advantage games
2007: The Phillies ended with an advantage game
2008: The Phillies ended with three advantage games
2024: The Phillies ended with six games of advantage over the Mets and the Braves

Therefore, it is an unusual pleasure to see the Mets and the Phillies fighting for the leadership of the East Division of the National League when New York faces the San Francisco giants in the program “Sunday Night Baseball” this week. This season has also been a bit irregular for both teams, so both directives have pressure to incorporate players in the deadline of exchanges in the hope of winning the World Series, which have escaped them in recent years despite their high payrolls and rosters full of stars. Let’s analyze what both teams should do before Thursday.

The perfect deadline for changes for METS

1. Help for the bullpen

The Mets have already acquired the powerful left -handed pitcher Gregory Soto de los Baltimore Orioles, but David Stearns will probably look for another reliever, since the Bullpen of the Mets has had problems since the beginning of June, with an effectiveness of 5.02. In my change evaluation, I pointed out the importance of METS incorporating a left -handed reliever. Think of possible rivals in the playoffs and all key left -handed batters: Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper in the Phillies; Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy in the Dodgers; Kyle Tucker, Michael Busch and Pete Crow-Armstrong in the Chicago Cubs.

Soto has limited left -handed to an average They also just activated Brooks Raley, who was out since the beginning of 2024. If he recovers his level of 2022-23, when he had an effectiveness of 2.74 and limited the left-handed to an average of .209, perhaps the Mets feel comfortable with their left-handed relief.

Another reliable right -handed reliever would still be good. The Mets openers were lit at the beginning, but they did not go far in the games, and outside Peterson, the lack of longer exits is a great reason why the effectiveness of the Bullpen has shot. Carlos Mendoza has overloaded his trainers, including Huascar Brazoban and Reed Garrett. Brazoban has never been a great Strikes pitcher, and Garrett also declined in the second half of last season. Adding a high impact right -hander to prepare Edwin Diaz makes sense. The candidates include David Bednar of the Pirates, Ryan Helsley of the Cardinals, Griffin Jax or Jhoan Duran of the Twins, or perhaps a less likely possibility such as Emmanuel Class or Cade Smith of the Cleveland Guardians.

2. Think great, like Eugenio Suarez

Mark winds was key to his participation in the playoffs and his trip to the National League championship series last season, hitting .266/.322/.516 with 27 homers after starting the season in Triple-A. However, he has not been able to replicate that performance, with an average of .224/.279/.354. This has caused a constant rotation in the third base, with winds, Brett Bitch and Ronny Mauricio as headlines in July. In general, the third bases of the METS ranked 24 in the Major in PAHO when they arrived at Friday.

One of the reasons why the Mets offensive has been mediocre instead of very good is that they average 4.38 races per game, just below the average of the National League of 4.43. They may need another first batter, given the low production they have received from the central garden and the receiver (not to mention the bad streak of Francisco Lindor since mid -June). Perhaps the brief stage of Francisco Alvarez in Triple-A gives the bat energy now that he is back in the elderly, but looking for Suarez to hit Juan Soto and Pete Alonso would extend the alignment.

3. Readquirir Harrison Bader to play in the central garden

Tyrone Taylor is an outstanding defender in the central garden and has made several incredible receptions, but he is hitting .209/.264/.306 for a low PAHO+ of 65. His old friend Bader is having a good season with the Minnesota Twins, batting .251/.330/.435. Perhaps it is a bit excessive for him, since he had an OPS of .657 with the Mets last season, but still would represent an offensive improvement with respect to Taylor without losing anything in defense, and would not cost a first level prospect. The Mets could still include Jeff McNeil against the right -handed ones, which are very hard, but adding to Suárez and Bader would give this alignment a feeling of championship.

The perfect deadline for Phillies

1. Acquire Jhoan Durán

Like the Mets, the Phillies have already made a play here, signing the free agent David Robertson, who had an effectiveness of 3.00 and 99 strikeouts in 72 tickets last season with the Texas Rangers. In theory, you should help, but you are also 40 years old and you will need some games in minors to prepare. Even with Robertson, Phillies may need more help. They will eventually recover Jose Alvarado from his suspension of 60 games for prohibited substances, but Alvarado is not eligible for the postseason. At least the Mets have an elite closure in Edwin Díaz. Jordan Romano leads the Philis with eight salvages and has an effectiveness of 6.69. Matt Strahm is solid, but more useful as a left -handed trainer than as a closer (think of all those left -handed batters that we mention for the METS, then replace Juan Soto and Brandon Nimmo with Harper and Schwarber).

And the bullpen of the Phillies has constantly fallen in the important matches. Let us remember the division series of the National League last year, when Jeff Hoffman lost twice against the Mets. Or the 2023, when Craig Kimbre lost two games in the National League Championship Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Or the 2022 World Series, when Yordan Alvarez connected the home run against Alvarado in the sixth decisive game.

So, a blunt closure is essential. It may be Bednar, perhaps class if available (although he had problems in the postseason last year), maybe Helsley. But the player for Dave Dombrowski should bet everything is Durán. The signing window for the Phillies is slowly closing as the main players age. Durán is under control until 2027, so fits now and in the immediate future. The cost of the exchange can be high, but with its line of 100 mph and its splitter, it has the elite repertoire that is needed in October.

2. Add Ryan O’Hearn

The Philis have had a production below the average of both the left garden (mainly Max Kepler) and the central garden (the Brandon Marsh/Johan Rojas couple). The market for the central garden is quite limited, except for Bader or perhaps a commitment to Luis Robert Jr. I would put aside Robert, I would stay with the Marsh/Rojas couple and improve the left garden with O’Hearn, who beats .281/.375/.452 for the Orioles. It is not the ideal option, since, like Kepler, batting the left -handed and has difficulties against left -handed, but it is a patient batter with a much better OBP and is passable in the gardens.

3. Acquire Willi Castro

In summary: Phillies must admit that some of their long -term position players are not giving their best, such as the second Bryson Stott base, who has an OPS+ of 77. The third base Alec Bohm has improved, but also has an OPS under the average.

That makes Castro fit well. It is not a star, but it is a batter above the average, an ambidiesto batter who plays throughout the field for Twins, having started matches in five different positions. He could play second or third base, or start in the left garden against a left -handed. Philadelphia could even start with him in the central instead of Rojas, although that would be a defensive blow.

In summary: Castro would give Phillies much more versatility, or a significant offensive improvement on Stott if they start it every day on the second base.

Note: Stott has hit .188 in 33 postseason games in his career. Bohm has hit .214 with two homers in 34 postseason games. Phillies need a different offensive for October.