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The New York Mets have one of baseball’s largest payrolls but they could be looking to replace some of that veteran talent as the season goes on.
The team got off to the best start in baseball but it’s possible that some persistent injuries are catching up with them, particularly in the pitching staff. The team has yet to see Sean Manaea or Frankie Montas take the mound. And the relief corps has lost AJ Minter, Paul Blackburn and Danny Young to injuries as well.
As the marathon of the season wears on and the Mets struggle to field healthy arms, SNY’s Joe DeMayo expects them to call up an exciting young arm sooner or later.
“The organization’s No. 1 prospect, right-hander Brandon Sproat, has found inconsistencies at the Triple-A level, but he still comes equipped with a pitch mix that could play up in short spurts, including a fastball that can touch triple digits,” DeMayo wrote. “The Mets certainly view him as a long-term starter, and I do expect his big league debut to come this season, but could it start in the bullpen? I think that is possible.”
The Mets drafted Sproat in both 2022 and, after he declined to sign, again in 2023. So far this season he has a concerning 5.48 ERA in six starts with Triple-A Syracuse but, as DeMayo noted, he has the stuff to make an impact in the big leagues.
A chance to attack some major league hitters out of the bullpen might be a compelling challenge for Sproat, who is ranked as the organization's number-one overall prospect by MLB.com, and the Mets seem pretty likely to have an opening in the bullpen.
“There is plenty of season left with twists and turns to come, especially on the pitching side, so it’s important to keep an open mind,” DeMayo added.
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Peter Chawaga is a veteran journalist covering Major League Baseball for The Sporting News. His MLB reporting has included feature interviews with commissioner Rob Manfred and Hall of Fame slugger David Ortiz, salary analysis, player rankings and more. He has covered baseball for Forbes, Yardbarker, Pitcher List, Athlon and other outlets.
With over ten years of newsroom experience, he has previously covered finance, technology, arts, and culture for newspapers, magazines, and websites nationwide. He graduated from Wake Forest University with a degree in English and journalism.
English (US)