It is too late to save the Mets’ season, but it is the right time to boost the Mets’ trade deadline haul.
Tyrone Taylor is swinging — but not talking — as if he wants other teams to pry him out of Queens, smoking his seventh home run in his past 19 games in Saturday’s 6-2 loss to the Marlins at Citi Field.
Since July 4, the ostensible fourth outfielder owns a .951 slugging percentage and 1.389 OPS that are the best in the majors among hitters with at least 35 plate appearances.
“He’s been phenomenal. Swung the bat as well as anybody in the league,” interim manager Andy Green said after Taylor’s two-run homer in the second inning represented the club’s only offense. “Feels like he’s homering every time we put him in the lineup.”
With a series finale Sunday and an off-day Monday, odds are Green can only put Taylor in one more lineup.
The Mets will sell plenty of pieces, and there is no doubt they will look to recoup some value for walk-year players such as Taylor.
Especially in a market barren righty bats, David Stearns & Co. should find a taker.
Taylor had played for Stearns’ Brewers before Stearns accepted the Mets’ job and traded for him ahead of the 2024 season.
Two and half years later, Taylor has built a life in New York.
“I love it here, man,” said Taylor, who acknowledged thinking “the past couple of days” about his trade prospects. “I got my family out here. We’ve been out here for three years, so my daughter’s done some cool stuff out here, with swim classes, dance classes and just things like that. It’s my son’s first year out here.
“I love this team. I love the staff. There’s a lot of resources here that I know other teams probably don’t have.
“I love my teammates. So, I love it here.”
In his past 19 games and 48 plate appearances, Taylor has spiked his OPS from .551 to .793, to which he credited a lot of work with the Mets’ hitting minds and feeling “free.”
Cionel Pérez’s flexor strain is “relatively minor,” Green said.
The lefty reliever, who had been placed on the injured list on Friday, will use August to rehab and could return in September.
After Xzavion Curry was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse, righty Kevin Herget was selected and threw a scoreless inning.
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Freddy Peralta, who was scratched from his start Friday with trade talks intensifying, remained with the Mets for the time being and was set to throw Saturday.
“Staying ready,” Green said, “should the opportunity arise for him to end up elsewhere at this point in time.”
The Mets scored two or fewer runs in a game for the 42nd time this season, tied with the A’s for the second-most in the majors.
They are 1-41 in those games.
Robert Stock, a 36-year-old righty, will be called up and start Sunday’s finale against the Marlins.
