Mets proposed blockbuster lands reliable $24M veteran from Diamondbacks

The New York Mets' starting pitching has done an abrupt 180, and not in a good way.

After surprisingly putting up some of the best rotation stats early in the season, things have cratered in Queens. David Peterson is an All-Star and Clay Holmes has been good, but the back half of the rotation is in shambles due to injuries.

Fortunately, the Mets are starting to get healthy, with Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea both returning (Senga Friday, Manaea hopefully Sunday). But one more starter with a healthy track record would make a world of difference.

Would the Arizona Diamondbacks consider selling to the Mets? One baseball writer thinks that might solve all of New York's problems.

On Friday, Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly named D-backs starter Merrill Kelly as a top potential trade fit for the Mets at this year's deadline, suggesting that New York could send pitching prospect Blade Tidwell back to Arizona in the deal.

"Merrill Kelly would be a rental, but he's a steady pitcher to add to a rotation with David Peterson, Kodai Senga and Clay Holmes as the Mets try to build a group that can compete in October.

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"Perhaps Sean Manaea will play a role down the stretch, but the Mets can't expect him to be the same pitcher he was in the second half of last season. Not only does Kelly have a 3.49 ERA over 111 innings this season, but he is playoff tested after posting a 2.25 ERA during a magical 2023 postseason run for the Diamondbacks."

Kelly, 36, is proving to be as reliable as ever in the final year of his contract, which spanned three years and $24 million. The Arizona native may well return to the D-backs after the season in free agency, but why not make a deep playoff run first?

The Mets really could use Kelly, but so could a handful of teams. And there's still no guarantee he becomes available for hire.

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