Deadline Day deals are always fun. A team opting to switch away from the guarantee of quality players mid-way into the season marks a clear departure from the team’s original strategy. While it can sometimes be attributed to simply the direction a team is taking, the reasons sometimes go deeper.

The New York Mets could do better in the NL East. Despite starting the season as front-runners to snag their division and the pennant, they have certainly disappointed. The Mets are operating behind the 0.500 mark and are 22.5 games behind in their division. There also appears to be some drama emerging from their erstwhile ace Justin Verlander after being traded away.

After Switching From the New York Mets, Star Ace Clarifies Position

As Deadline Day approached, the Mets saw Verlander traded back to the Houston Astros. And with the latest reports suggesting that Verlander was unhappy with the Mets’ analytics department, it did not enthuse the Citi Field faithful. Verlander, however, recently took to social media to clarify.

“I want to say that I have nothing but respect for the Mets organization and I enjoyed connecting with all my teammates this season … new and old!! It truly was a wonderful group of people,” Verlander posted on X.

“That being said, we all know the success of a team is made up of more than just the players on the field, everyone’s input is valuable. I’m sorry to hear that a staff member took offense to constructive criticism on how we could improve. Wishing nothing but the best for the Mets moving forward,” read the post.

The New York Mets started the 2023 season with burgeoning expectations. Having added 2022 AL Cy Young winner Justin Verlander in a free agency for a bumper $86 million deal, the Mets would’ve expected that their mound rotation was safe. However, that was not to be.

Are the New York Mets in Trouble in 2023?

The Mets are looking at finishing the year below 0.500. With the team 54-65 at the last count; they have lost their star rotation on the mound, trading away Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer.

Read More: $216M Former New York Mets Aces Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer’s “Strained” Relationship Revealed

With both stars leaving in Deadline Day trades, the former moving to the Houston Astros and the latter to NL Rivals in the Texas Rangers, the Mets seem to have called their season early. The attention now turns to how well the Mets will form up in the final stretch of games and whether they can still try to make it to the postseason.

While they have more than a few games to make up, baseball has had more unlikely stories, and if anyone can make it from here, it would be the New York Mets. Fans may take any optimism with a heavy pinch of salt.

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