A Sellers Guide To Buying At The Trade Deadline: The Mets’ Path Back Into the Race

[Matthew Nethercott]

Image courtesy of © Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The New York Mets enter the middle of June at 31-39, deep into last place in the NL East.. Still, there's a lot of season left and a lot of time for the Mets to turn things around. Just think back to 2024, when this franchise used the power of vibes to ride a June hot streak all the way to the NLCS. If they are going to make the 2026 a season to remember, though, they will need reinforcements at the trade deadline.

A lot of things will have to go right between now and August to get to this point, but let's examine the kind of trade haul David Stearns would have to bring in to make the Mets contenders again.

Mets' Best Trade Targets if They Buy

3. LHP Robbie Ray

The Mets need help in the starting rotation, and the Giants are looking to sell impending free agents. Ray has been solid in 2026 and will eat innings for the Mets. He’s posted a 21.0 strikeout percentage in his 73.1 innings of work, and his track record suggests he's capable of more. A lot of Ray’s underlying metrics this season, like his xERA of 5.16, don’t look great, but he has been consistent and victimized by a few really bad starts in 2026 and not going as deep into games as he did in the past. Still, the veteran southpaw is viewed as one of the better starters that could be moved this season, and it would be a straight rental deal as he’s a free agent after the season.

He shouldn't be the only starter acquired by the Mets if they go all-in at the deadline, but he'd be a nice back-of-the-rotation buy.

Robbie Ray, K'ing the Side in the 2nd...with 2 Swords. ⚔️⚔️ pic.twitter.com/Gc13wsqqc4

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 14, 2026

2. 1B Christian Walker

With the Astros still well under .500 and in fourth place in the AL West, first baseman Christian Walker has been the subject of much trade speculation. With the Mets having posted an 83 WRC+ (28th in baseball) at first base this season, it only makes sense that they'd pursue an actual replacement for Pete Alonso. This season, Walker has posted a 124 WRC+, hitting for the kind of power (18 homers, .506 slugging percentage) that the Mets are parched for. Walker also has a strong track record of being a good defender at the cold corner, making him as perfect of a fit for Carlos Mendoza's lineup as anyone on the market.

CHRISTIAN WALKER HALLELUJAH pic.twitter.com/87JkcZMF7u

— Houston Astros (@astros) May 24, 2026

1. LHP Tarik Skubal

The one thing the Mets have been short on in 2026 has been starting pitching. In conjunction with someone like Ray, in order to seriously compete this season, they should go after the best starting pitcher on the market, and that is Tarik Skubal. The southpaw just returned from the injured list after having surgery to remove bone spurs from his pitching elbow but appears to be in good health. The reigning back-to-back Cy Young winner has a 26.2% strikeout percentage in his 48 innings this season, displaying his usual level of dominance on the mound (2.81 ERA, 2.44 FIP). Skubal also has a good postseason track record, and he comes through in the biggest outings, which is something the Mets are going to need down the stretch and into the postseason.

Tarik Skubal today:

7 2/3 IP
3 H
1 ER
3 BB
14 K

(responsible for runner on 2nd)

DAWG pic.twitter.com/5Bf063Jf1f

— MLB Deadline News (@MLBDeadlineNews) September 30, 2025

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The Mets are looking for magic in 2026, and they will need help both in the starting rotation and offensively if the team is looking to go on a run to the postseason like they did in 2024.

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