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SAN FRANCISCO — The Mets clearly aren’t finished looking for upgrades, with it only a question of how many new players will have been added by the time Thursday’s trade deadline arrives.
Team officials have taken the approach that the Mets, as constructed, are likely good enough to reach the postseason for a second straight year. But just getting there isn’t enough, with sights on a deep October run.
That is where the improvements come into play for a roster that could still use another reliever and outfield bat, with a frontline starting pitcher as the potential icing on the cake.
With multiple teams still on the bubble as to whether they should become buyers or sellers heading to July 31, the Mets are taking the approach that the situation will have crystallized by the weekend’s conclusion.
To that end, team officials are planning to ramp up the process beginning Sunday night, when more specific targets for acquisition and possible scenarios will be identified.
The Mets’ first foray into this trade market occurred Friday, when the team acquired lefty reliever Gregory Soto from the Orioles for minor league pitchers Wellington Aracena and Cameron Foster.
It’s a market that remains flooded with quality relievers.
David Bednar, Kyle Finnegan, Emmanuel Clase and Félix Bautista are just some of the potential names the Mets can pursue.
The center field market is less intriguing — especially given that Byron Buxton said at the All-Star Game that he won’t waive his no-trade clause to leave the Twins — but there are potential fits, starting with Jarren Duran and Cedric Mullins.
Luis Robert Jr. has a higher ceiling, but the former All-Star is underperforming offensively for a dreadful White Sox team that holds club options on his contract for the 2026 and ’27 seasons.
Harrison Bader was a quality part-time option for the Mets last season and would be an upgrade offensively to what the team has received from Tyrone Taylor.
On the starting pitching front, president of baseball operations David Stearns has acknowledged any addition would likely be for a high-ceiling type arm.
Dylan Cease and Sandy Alcantara fit that description, and the Mets have checked in on both, according to sources.
Stearns will look for a repeat of the success he had last July, when Phil Maton, Ryne Stanek, Huascar Brazobán, Paul Blackburn and Jesse Winker arrived to bolster a team that squeaked into the postseason before advancing to Game 6 of the NLCS.
“Last year the acquisitions we made, they weren’t just for last year,” Francisco Lindor said. “They are helping us this year. Brazobán became one of the high-leverage relievers. I trust [the front office]. Whatever they want to do.
“They are really good at it, so I am just looking forward to it. I’m sure it’s going to be an exciting week for the Mets organization and for Stearns … I am sure they are going to get excited. I’m sure every GM gets excited around this time of year.”
The Mets have young players such as Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio, Mark Vientos and Luisangel Acuña that could bring different levels of returns.
The farm includes high-end pitching prospects in Nolan McLean, Brandon Sproat and Jonah Tong, in addition to Drew Gilbert and Ryan Clifford — both of whom arrived at the trade deadline two years ago from the Astros in the deal for Justin Verlander.
In Soto, the Mets addressed a need for lefty relief that emerged after A.J. Minter and Danny Young underwent season-ending surgeries.
“[Stearns] knows what he is doing, and Soto is a great addition to our bullpen,” Brandon Nimmo said. “I love bringing in a hard-throwing lefty and I have never enjoyed facing him. Hopefully it will be the same for everybody else.”
