As the Mets prepare to kick off the second half of their season tomorrow night against the Reds in Queens, there’s a chance the team could stir things up with several intriguing internal roster moves—if the front office chooses to go that route. While most of these changes would be unexpected, it’s fun to consider the possibilities. Let’s take a look.
First up is Brooks Raley, who has reached the end of his rehab assignment and is likely to be activated from the injured list before Friday’s series opener. Over nine innings across three minor league levels, Raley has posted a 0.00 ERA with 13 strikeouts and just one walk.
The Mets could make room for him by removing one of Chris Devenski, Richard Lovelady, Alex Carrillo, or Brandon Waddell from the roster. Carrillo and Waddell have minor league options remaining; Devenski and Lovelady do not. If Raley can recapture his pre-Tommy John form, he’d represent a major boost to the bullpen.
Drew Gilbert, who missed a large chunk of 2024 with a hamstring issue and struggled upon his return, saw his prospect stock dip. However, over the past month, he’s been on fire at the plate in Triple-A Syracuse, slashing .291/.354/.581 with six homers in 96 plate appearances.
With the Mets getting minimal production from the lower half of their lineup, Gilbert could be a worthwhile gamble—perhaps replacing Jared Young. He could slot into center or left field, or serve as the DH, giving the offense a spark. To make this move, the Mets would need to add Gilbert to the 40-man roster, which may require removing someone, especially if Raley is reinstated from the 60-day IL.
Pitchers Nolan McLean and Brandon Sproat have also impressed. McLean has excelled all season, climbing from Double-A to Triple-A, while Sproat has pitched well in his recent starts.
Either arm could be a useful addition, especially if the Mets decide to hit pause on the Clay Holmes starting experiment. Holmes has been laboring through recent outings, which isn’t surprising given the increased workload in his first full season as a starter in years. Like Gilbert, McLean and Sproat would need to be added to the 40-man roster.
Finally, there’s Francisco Alvarez, who has been crushing the ball in Syracuse with a 1.114 OPS overall—and a scorching 1.363 mark over his last seven games. Whether or not he hits that well right away in the majors, he’d be a clear upgrade over Hayden Senger, who’s posted a meager 15 wRC+ in limited MLB action this season.
Be the first to comment