You don’t usually need a translator when David Stearns speaks, he tends to say exactly what he means. Before the Friday night Rays game, Stearns was asked a straightforward question and gave a straightforward answer. There was no cryptic phrasing, no layered subtext, just a clear, no-nonsense response that pointed directly at a need the New York Mets are quietly facing. It wasn’t framed as a grand announcement or dramatic reveal, but for anyone paying attention, the takeaway was unmistakable. While it didn’t flip the trade market on its head, it gave the rumor mill just enough to chew on, and that’s sometimes all it takes to set the wheels in motion.

David Stearns confirmed the NY Mets will be looking for a reliever who can neutralize left-handed hitters before the trade deadline.

Despite a bullpen holding its own, the lack of a true left-handed specialist has been a glaring hole. Right-handed arms have stepped up better than expected, Reed Garrett, for example, has been impressive against lefties, limiting them to a .211 batting average and the same slugging percentage, with 12 strikeouts in just 38 at-bats. Max Kranick has also shown promise, holding left-handed hitters to a .203 average with a .420 slugging percentage and 15 strikeouts in 69 at-bats, though some of that contact hasn’t been particularly soft.

Brooks Raley, signed late in April while still rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, could eventually fill that lefty role. Stearns mentioned that Raley might begin a rehab assignment next week, but it’ll be at least 30 days before he’s ready for a call-up. In 2023, lefties hit just .239 against him, striking out 31 times in 96 at-bats. Until he’s back, however, the Amazins’ remain without a true left-handed weapon out of the pen. While it’s not yet a crisis, it’s a need the front office recognizes. Stearns’s comments show the Mets aren’t simply crossing their fingers and hoping for the best.

When it comes to bullpen chess, having the right pieces to neutralize lefties is more than just a good strategy, it’s a must. Stearns’ candid nod to that need leaves little doubt the Mets aren’t sitting still. Whether the missing puzzle piece arrives via trade or rehab, one thing’s for sure: come deadline day, the bullpen’s lefty puzzle will be a hot topic worth watching. Stay tuned.