Assessing the Trade Deadline Carnage

The carnage is complete -- we think -- as Luke Weaver, Clay Holmes and Tyrone Taylor joined A.J. Minter, Huascar Brazoban, Luke Raley and Freddy Peralta in exiting Flushing for assumedly greener pastures.

Weaver is heading to Pittsburgh, Holmes and Taylor to the Chicago's north side and the friendly confines (for Taylor, at least) of Wrigley Field (with Brazoban heading to the south side and the White Sox).

In return, the Mets get two minor league infielders: shortstop Sammy Stafura and third baseman (mostly) Jefferson Rojas. Both have intriguing upsides, but neither appears, at least at this writing, to be a candidate for the 2027 major league roster.

Stafura will be playing for his third organization: the Hudson Valley native was drafted by the Reds in 2023 and taded to the Pirates last year in the Ke'Bryan Hayes deal. Playing mostly in the hitter-friendly Greensboro ballpark at high-A, Stafura has posted a .301 average with 19 home runs in 47 games and a 1.021 OPS. He also has stolen 30-plus bases in each of his two full seasons of pro ball. On the flip side, he has significant swing-and-miss issues: 62 strikeouts in 186 Greensboro at-bats. He's headed for the Brooklyn Cyclones, which puts him at least two years away.

Rojas is conceivably closer to the bigs -- he's playing at AA and is hitting .270, with 15 homers in 97 games. He was considered the Cubs' number two prospect, with average speed but good instincts. A big question is his defense. He split time between second and short in 2025 before settling in at third this year, where he's considered an average defender with quick hands an a good arm.

As we step back and take a look at David Stearns' haul in dismantling the major league roster, our assessment is: there are some players who arouse interest but none who produce excitement, as in: wait until you see (fill in the blank) put on a major league uniform. For the position players, Stearns and his scouts seem to have put an emphasis on speed and not necessarily on run prevention. And many of the prospects seem to have regressed this year playing in stiffer competition.

Admittedly, it's hard even for experts who make a living at this sort of thing (the scouts) to predict with any certainty how a prospect will develop. Remember how scouts sung the praises of Ronny Mauricio and, to note another trade deadline deal, Luisangel Acuna?

But what is certain is that looking at this group, it's not unfair to be skeptical when Mets brass contend that the team will contend in 2027. If the Mets do, it's likely we haven't seen many of the players who will make up that roster.

As for the remainder of his season, let's just say that when the team heads to the visiting clubhouse at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia and Meet the Mets is playing, it will be a sign that the players are introducing themselves -- to each other.

Which brings to mind this ditty from the 1960s that sort of describes the roster for the rest of the year:

https://youtu.be/D7C84ML1B6E

Or the original on which it was based:

https://youtu.be/Pu-rWOx4rbA

Take your pick.