The tightrope David Stearns is walking as he tries to turn Mets into World Series winner

David Stearns is consistently fighting a battle on two fronts, attempting to upgrade the major league roster without severely damaging what has emerged as a very good farm system under his watch as Mets president of baseball operations.

Last week was one in which Stearns cashed in some of his prospect capital to fill two significant holes.

First, the Mets sent Luisangel Acuña and pitcher Truman Pauley to the White Sox for Luis Robert Jr.

The more seismic transaction occurred a day later, with Freddy Peralta arriving from the Brewers for two of the best Mets prospects, Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams.