Mets could address other areas of need at MLB trade deadline

Let’s do some junior detective work around the Mets and the trade deadline. 

David Stearns on Monday described the bullpen as his priority between now and July 31; understandable since within this season the Mets have lost four key contributors for the year — Max Kranick, Dedniel Núñez and lefties A.J. Minter and Danny Young. 

For a second straight game, the Mets received terrific pen work against the Angels, this time 3 ¹/₃ shutout innings Tuesday in a 3-2 victory. Still, since their season took a downturn on June 13, Met relievers have logged 143 innings, second most in the majors. So even with a strong small-sample return from lefty Brooks Raley, the Mets ideally need reinforcements of at least two relievers, one a southpaw. 

Stearns downplayed the need for a starter, but one who would make the Mets postseason rotation must be considered because of the physical volatility within the group, notably of Kodai Senga (does Dylan Cease qualify if the Padres really are open to dealing him?).