Report updates if Mets will be buyers during MLB trade deadline

Some continue to wonder if New York Mets owner Steve Cohen will instruct president of baseball operations David Stearns to buy, sell or make minimal moves ahead of the July 30 MLB trade deadline.

If nothing else, it sounds like Cohen wants to avoid a second straight summer fire sale.

"Stearns will be operating with the sizable advantage of Cohen’s checkbook," Mike Puma of the New York Post explained on Thursday. "Trust me when I say Cohen is delighted with the manner this season has transformed and wants to take a shot at autumn glory with this bunch, but that is provided the Mets don’t enter a free fall over the next 10 days, and even then they won’t mortgage too much of the future for improvements."

The Mets became one of the more surprising stories of the first half of the season, as a club that fell to 24-35 on June 2 entered the All-Star break at 49-46 and in possession of a National League wild-card spot. First baseman Pete Alonso seemingly will stay with the Mets through the trade deadline, and the Amazins acquired right-handed relief pitcher Phil Maton from the Tampa Bay Rays shortly after outfielder Brandon Nimmo made it known he had "lobbied" Cohen and Stearns for "additions" to the roster.

Puma was sure to point out that fans shouldn't expect Cohen to go all-in and make a massive pre-deadline splash even if the Mets begin the campaign's second half with a winning streak.

"But the Maton deal, in which the Mets absorbed the $2.75M remaining on his contract — in addition to a player to be named later or cash considerations — should serve as a model for the type of trades Stearns can still look to orchestrate," Puma continued. "And who knows, maybe there is a deal out there that sets up the Mets for even beyond the final two months of this season."

For example, the Mets have been linked with Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Erick Fedde, who is signed through 2025.

The Mets are expected to pursue big-name free agents such as New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto this coming offseason, so it's logical Stearns would want to retain the organization's top prospects and plan for the future beyond 2024. With that said, current Mets players could send quite a message to Cohen and Stearns beginning with Friday's series opener at the lowly Miami Marlins (33-63).