After the Mets grabbed another win on Monday night to get back to .500, Morash opened Tuesday’s show with a declaration about the trade deadline.
Morash says the Mets need to move one of their best bats.
“Now is the time to strike with trading J.D. Martinez,” Morash said. “Last night was a really fun win. There are obviously positives to take out of it…but why did they almost lose this game? It’s because the bullpen is an unmitigated disaster.
“He is on a one-year deal. He is not part of the long-term picture of this team…I now trust, with the emergence of Vientos and Alvarez being healthy, that the Mets have the depth to build for the future while still competing.”
Martinez has a robust 147 OPS+ on the season, and his return has coincided with New York’s hot streak. But Morash says the Mets have enough bats to stay in the race thanks to a healthy Francisco Alvarez, a more comfortable Mark Vientos, and a thriving Francisco Lindor after a brutal start to the season. Still, they likely don’t have enough to truly contend for a title because of their bullpen struggles, which Morash isn’t convinced they can address at the deadline. So, why not trade a rental to further bolster the farm system and look to the future?
“Every team in Major League baseball needs bullpen help,” Morash said. “The idea that the Mets are gonna get two arms out of this and out-maneuver these other teams, I’m really skeptical.”