The New York Mets are in the thick of the National League wild card race, and it has very little to do with their offense. The Mets are dead last in the National League in runs per game, and have routinely failed to support one of baseball's most effective starting rotations.
Today, news broke that sources in the Detroit Tigers organization are hinting at a trade deadline sell-off with outfielder Yoenis Cespedes included. This season Cespedes is slashing .298/.314/.482 with 13 home runs and 52 RBI, his best numbers since his rookie season in 2012 with the Oakland Athletics.
That success means he will not necessarily be cheap to acquire, even if he is set to become a free agent this offseason. Instead, the Mets may look to keep their treasure chest of prized pitchers and instead promote from within. The answer may be Double-A outfielder Michael Conforto.
The 22-year-old is hitting .325 with five home runs and 25 RBI at Double-A, and getting on base at a .407 clip. More importantly, he won't cost the Mets any of their star pitchers. Their rotation has been the primary reason the Mets have the third-best ERA in the National League, behind only the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates who have help from two of the NL's top bullpens. Four of the Mets' five regular starters have sub-3.37 ERAs; the one who doesn't, Bartolo Colon, is tied for the team lead in wins and has sole possession of the rotation's best walk rate.
Keeping that group intact could be more important to the Mets than hoping for Cespedes to cure the offense's ills. Especially when a hyped prospect is waiting in the wings.
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