How Mets address suddenly thin rotation at trade deadline looms large

In the weeks leading into the trade deadline the Mets have addressed the bullpen and bench.

The big remaining question before Tuesday’s 6 p.m. cutoff for deals might be whether the team will bolster the starting rotation.

Just over a week ago, the Mets appeared covered in that area: Christian Scott was still a factor and Kodai Senga had been cleared for his season debut with the club.

But Scott has since been shut down with a sprained right ulnar collateral ligament and Senga left the field Friday with a strained calf that is expected to keep him sidelined for the remainder of the regular season .

With names such as Blake Snell , Tarik Skubal, Jack Flaherty, Garrett Crochet and Chris Bassitt still potentially available as the Mets began their series against the Twins on Monday, president of baseball operations David Stearns certainly had options.

But would the Mets strike a deal for a starting pitcher?

Jose Butto tosses three innings to save Mets’ bullpen in possible rotation preparation

“I don’t know how long Scott is going to be out, but that would be good to have somebody to help us out there,” Luis Severino said.

Tommy John surgery still hasn’t been ruled out for the rookie Scott, who will rest for at least another week before he is evaluated, so it would behoove the Mets not to count on the right-hander’s return.

The Mets also have Jose Butto as an internal option that could bolster the rotation, but the right-hander has dominated in the bullpen and for now at least is too valuable in that role.

Snell, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, was never seriously considered by the Mets last offseason because of the contract length he was seeking and the fact he was extended a qualifying offer — meaning the team that signed him would be required to surrender a draft pick.

But Snell settled for a two-year deal worth $62 million with the Giants that includes an opt-out after this season and the qualifying offer is no longer a factor.

After a sluggish first half to the season, Snell has pitched to a 0.75 ERA over his last four starts.

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“I think he is coming back to his old self,” Severino said. “It would be really fun to have somebody like that.”

The Mets acquired reliever Ryne Stanek from the Mariners on Friday in a deal for minor league outfielder Rhylan Thomas.

A day later the Mets landed outfielder Jesse Winker in a trade that sent pitching prospect Tyler Stuart to the Nationals.

Stearns also dealt before the All-Star break, acquiring reliever Phil Maton from the Rays for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

The Mets planned a six-man rotation upon Senga’s return, but that has been scuttled with his injury.

For now, it’s Severino, Sean Manaea, Jose Quintana, David Peterson and Tylor Megill to carry the load.

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Without a trade for a starting pitcher, the Mets’ best hope might be to wait for relievers such as Reed Garrett, Dedniel Nunez and Sean Reid-Foley — all are projected to return in August — and hope that will be enough to allow Butto to shift back to the rotation.

Butto has dominated as a reliever and the Mets might be best served keeping him in that role.

But on Monday he was used for a three-inning save in which he threw 44 pitches and manager Carlos Mendoza later acknowledged that the right-hander is stretching out in case he’s needed as a starter.

“We’ll worry about that [decision] if we get there,” Mendoza said before the game. “But as of right now he’s a huge piece of our bullpen and we are going to use him that way. We’ll see what happens, five days, 10 days, two weeks from now.”

A proven starting pitcher would again allow the Mets to consider a six-man rotation, which could help a workhorse such as Severino, who leads the Mets with 120 ²/₃ innings pitched.

Severino hasn’t pitched that many innings since 2018 with the Yankees.

But the right-hander said he and the organization will be smart in their approach during summer’s dog days.

“I think the guys here know that at say 145 innings, let’s try to keep it to 80 pitches,” Severino said. “I think they will try to be smart about that and if I feel tired or feel something I will tell them. But right now I feel really good.”

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