Mets believe prospects Nolan McLean, Brandon Sproat 'can help' this season but timing needs to be right

Mets Skip Starting Pitcher at Deadline, Betting on Bullpen & Young Arms

The dust has settled after the Mets' whirlwind trade deadline, leaving one burning question: why no starting pitcher?

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns addressed this during a post-deadline Zoom call, stating his team explored options in the starting pitching market. "There's multiple ways to build a pitching staff," he said, expressing confidence in both the current major league arms and the developing talent within their minor league system.

Stearns explained that not every rumored pitcher ultimately moved, leaving them satisfied with their acquired bullpen reinforcements. "We’re really happy with the arms we were able to acquire, who are going to pitch out of our pen," he stated. He also highlighted his faith in existing starters and acknowledged the progress of young pitchers in Triple-A. "If needed, they could be part of the mix going forward.”

Promising prospects Nolan McLean and Brandon Sproat emerged as potential call-up candidates. Stearns lauded their development: “Both guys have taken very nice steps forward in their development...They are doing a good job." He added that the team needs to assess when the right opportunity arises for their promotion.

Minor League Standouts Show Promise

McLean, 24, has been dominant for Syracuse this season with a 3.01 ERA and 1.12 WHIP across 14 games (11 starts). His recent outing on July 30 saw him pitch six innings while allowing two runs and striking out six batters. Sproat, also 24, boasts a 4.30 ERA and 1.29 WHIP and hadn't surrendered a run for over a month before his July 25 start. He followed this with five scoreless innings on Thursday.

Despite their impressive performances, the Mets' current rotation remains healthy, with David Peterson, Kodai Senga, Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas, and Clay Holmes all pitching effectively. Paul Blackburn also resides in the minors, adding another layer to the starting pitching puzzle.

The win-now Mets may prioritize experience over youth for the remainder of the season, unless an injury necessitates a change.

While the "opportunity" Stearns spoke about remains unclear, it's evident that the Mets believe in Sproat and McLean's potential. The question now becomes: will they be given the chance to shine on the major league stage?