Once considered a strong point, the New York Mets’ starting rotation is now a concern that may need to be addressed.
Frankie Montas has struggled since coming off the injured list, posting a 6.14 ERA over three starts, and the team is currently without Griffin Canning, Sean Manaea, and Kodai Senga — at least for the time being.
Manaea and Senga are expected to return this weekend when the Mets head west to face the Kansas City Royals in a three-game series. Still, with World Series hopes in mind, the Mets should be exploring the market for additional pitching help.
Identifying the ‘Best Match’ for the Mets
Many Major League Baseball teams are likely hoping the Arizona Diamondbacks stumble in the coming weeks.
That’s because Arizona has several players on expiring contracts or affordable deals who could fill key needs for other clubs — including the New York Mets.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen is an ideal trade target for the Mets as the deadline approaches.
“Gallen has recently started to resemble his former self, and if his home run rate — which has risen from a career norm of one per nine innings to 1.6 — returns to normal, along with improvements in his low strand rate, he could overcome his 5.15 ERA and become a major asset for the Mets ahead of free agency,” Passan noted.
“While Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns typically avoids major investments in pitching, Gallen could be the kind of exception worth pursuing.”
Despite his elevated ERA in 2025, Gallen has started 19 games and is still striking out batters at a solid rate of 8.8 per nine innings, close to his career average of 9.6 K/9.
Gallen, who previously moved from the Marlins to the Diamondbacks in a 2019 trade for Jazz Chisholm Jr., is earning \$13.5 million this season.
How Bad Do the Mets Need Rotation Help?
The recent injuries to Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea have been far from ideal for the New York Mets, especially since both are key pieces at the top of the rotation. Their absence over the past month has clearly hurt, as the team’s starting pitching ERA has significantly worsened without them.
Jeff Passan highlighted how dominant the Mets were earlier in the season, writing: “The Mets jumped out to a 45-24 record thanks to elite starting pitching. Their 2.79 ERA led the league by nearly a quarter of a run, making them look like a powerhouse.”
“But since June 13, their rotation has fallen apart, posting a 5.61 ERA—worse than every other team except the Nationals. And when your staff is drawing comparisons to Washington’s, something has clearly gone wrong.”
Down the Stretch
Heading into Thursday, the New York Mets are in a tight race with the Philadelphia Phillies for the top spot in the NL East, and a pitching addition like Zac Gallen could make a big impact.
While the offense is powered by stars like Juan Soto, Pete Alonso, and Francisco Lindor, it’s the pitching that ultimately determines how far a team can go.
Bringing Gallen into the playoff rotation could give the Mets the boost they need to make their first World Series appearance since 2015.
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