Phillies Stifle $150 Million Mets Trade Deadline Hopes
The Philadelphia Phillies, firmly in the playoff hunt, recently dealt a significant blow to their struggling division rival, the New York Mets. In a crucial series, the Phillies not only secured a win but also potentially diminished the trade value of two key Mets pitchers, Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga. Both hurlers delivered poor performances, making them less attractive trade chips as the Mets prepare for a fire sale at the upcoming trade deadline. With the Mets at the bottom of their division, they are actively looking to offload veteran talent, with reports indicating they are "open for business" on most players, except a few young prospects and Juan Soto. The Phillies' victory exacerbated the Mets' trade dilemma, potentially leaving them stuck with expensive, underperforming assets.
The Philadelphia Phillies entered the second half of the season firmly in the National League playoff race, while arguably their biggest division rival, the New York Mets, are virtually out of contention.
But even though the two rivals are already on different trajectories toward the playoffs, that didn’t mean the Phillies couldn’t deliver yet another setback for the Mets as the two faced off in their latest series since the All-Star break.
On Saturday, Philadelphia's offense not only secured another important win but also might have dinged the value of two veteran Mets pitchers whose names have surfaced in trade discussions ahead of the looming deadline.
"If Saturday served as a showcase of two underperforming Mets pitchers, consider nobody interested,” Mike Puma wrote for the New York Post. “Sean Manaea was very hittable over his short start, and Kodai Senga behind him didn't exactly inspire confidence. Both pitchers are available heading to the trade deadline. Proceed at your own risk if you are a team needing a back-of-the-rotation arm. Maybe better yet: Don't proceed."
At this point, sitting at the very bottom of the division, the Mets are increasingly likely to salvage what they can from this season by selling virtually every moveable piece at the trade deadline, hoping to jumpstart a return to contention for next year. Senga and Manaea might have been two of their most appealing trade chips, but the Phillies sluggers were able to subtract some of that potential value from their division rival.
"The Mets already traded one struggling pitcher, sending David Peterson to the Cubs last month for first baseman Cole Mathis, but that Manaea and Senga are still owed significant dollars may leave the Mets stuck with them,” Puma added.
Senga is in the fourth year of a five-year, $75 million deal while Manaea also has one more year ahead on his own three-year, $75 million contract with the Mets. Together, the $150 million pitching duo has performed so poorly this season that it’s unclear if the Mets would be better off holding onto them in hopes of returning to contention next year.
Even though the Mets have invested heavily in veteran talent for this season, there’s little doubt that they are preparing to enter a fire sale by the end of the month.
"With the Trade Deadline less than three weeks away, it appears the Mets are open for business,” Thomas Harrigan reported for MLB.com. “According to multiple reports, New York has opened trade discussions with other teams and has very few untouchables as it moves toward a Aug. 3 Deadline sale. The Mets are reportedly willing to consider virtually anyone but superstar outfielder Juan Soto and youngsters Nolan McLean, Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing and Christian Scott."
That willingness to listen on veteran players makes sense given the organization's direction, but Saturday's performance might have reduced the value the team will receive in return for Manaea or Senga.