The New York Mets are on pace to finish in last place for the first time in 23 years, returning from the All-Star break with their worst first-half performance since 1995. The team’s struggles come despite a payroll nearing half a billion dollars. Currently, the Mets rank poorly in several statistical categories, including batting average (.234), on-base percentage (.303), slugging percentage (.381), and quality starts (23), while also tying for the second-most errors in the league with 65.
Following a recent home sweep by the Boston Red Sox, the Mets are set to resume their season with a challenging schedule. Their remaining 65 games feature opponents with a combined .539 winning percentage, the toughest stretch in Major League Baseball. After a series against the Philadelphia Phillies, the team faces consecutive series against first-place teams: the Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Atlanta Braves. The Mets will not play a team currently below .500 until the final weekend of August.
Shortstop Francisco Lindor acknowledged the team's current position, stating, "It's not where we want to be. It's not to the standard that we have here, and definitely not what we expected… We just have not played up to our potential." The team sits 12 games out of the final wild-card spot and behind all but one team in the National League. Interim manager Andy Green expressed that the team possesses too much talent to be in its current situation. "There's too much talent in the room to be in this spot right now," Green said.
Approaching Trade Deadline
The team is also preparing for the Aug. 3 trade deadline, with President of Baseball Operations David Stearns expected to try and recoup losses from the offseason. The Mets' initial sell-off began in June with the trade of David Peterson to the Chicago Cubs. More player departures are anticipated, potentially including pitchers like Freddy Peralta, Devin Williams, and Clay Holmes, among others. Earlier in July, team owner Steve Cohen voiced concerns about the team's future, citing a "regression in [their] farm system."