The 30-year-old Twins reliever was highlighted in Jeff Passan’s league-wide preview.
In an article released Wednesday morning, ESPN’s Jeff Passan offered a trade deadline outlook for all 30 MLB teams, naming Minnesota reliever Griffin Jax as the best target for the Mets. A 30-year-old homegrown Twin, Jax currently holds a 3.74 ERA with 68 strikeouts in 43.1 IP. Jax is coming off a stellar 2024 campaign, during which he put up a 2.03 ERA and tallied the seventh-highest bWAR (2.4) among relievers.
Passan specifically cited the value of Jax’s control on the mound. Since June 13, the Mets’ bullpen has a 3.90 BB/9 rate which ranks third-worst in the National League. Since the start of 2024, Jax is the only reliever in MLB whose stat line includes 100+ IP, a BB/9 rate below 2.00, and a K/9 rate above 12.0, making him one of the game’s most consistent, least erratic, and most electric relievers. As Edwin Díaz’s opt-out looms in the coming offseason, Jax is an even more attractive (albeit higher-priced) target given that he’s under Twins control through the 2027 season.
The Mets’ plethora of young infielders — Luisangel Acuña, Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio, and Mark Vientos — was invoked multiple times in Passan’s article. All four players have shown flashes of their potential, but none has been able to solidify their status as the Mets’ third baseman or second baseman of the future. If not for their crosstown rivalry, the Mets and Yankees would make intriguing trade partners, as Passan noted that the Yankees’ top priority at the deadline will be upgrading at third base after moving Jazz Chisholm Jr. back to his preferred position across the diamond. The New York teams rarely swap high-profile players, with their most recent exchange coming when the Yankees sent Luis Torrens to the Mets for cash last May, and the Mets haven’t traded a position player to the Yankees since the Robin Ventura/David Justice deal following the 2001 season.
For the Mets’ rival atop the N.L. East standings, the topic of relief pitching is predicted to take center stage at the deadline. The Phillies have the best starting pitching ERA in the National League at 3.63, but the sixth-worst bullpen ERA at 4.06. Even after signing 40-year-old former Met David Robertson on Monday, Philadelphia could look to further bolster their bullpen in the coming week. The fledgling Braves will look to trade a trio of impending free agents, including 34-year-old designated hitter Marcell Ozuna, closer Raisel Iglesias, and reliever Pierce Johnson (whom Mets fans remember fondly for the Game 161 home run he surrendered to Francisco Lindor last September). The surprisingly surging Marlins have a deadline wild card in former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara, who is currently signed through the 2026 season and has struggled since his return from Tommy John surgery. In Washington, meanwhile, Mike DeBartolo will make his first mark as interim General Manager after the firing of long-time GM Mike Rizzo. According to Passan, the Nats won’t part with rising superstar outfielder James Wood, and are unlikely to trade shortstop CJ Abrams or starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore. Closer Kyle Finnegan, starter Michael Soroka, and former Met Amed Rosario were all referenced as pieces which could be dealt out of the captiol as rentals.
The trade deadline is at 6 PM ET on Thursday, July 31, when the Mets will be enjoying an off-day following their upcoming six-game road trip to the west coast. Only time will tell whether any Met unknowingly played their final home game in Flushing on Wednesday afternoon against the Angels.