My take on the trade deadline moves is one of those good news, bad news jokes. New York Mets General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen’s spin that this is what they planned all along is one weird thing that has a grain of truth in it.
Yes, the Mets improved for 2019 and have a better chance of making the postseason because Marcus Stroman is much better than Jason Vargas. The bad news is that the bullpen and the bench are as thin as paint and the farm does not offer much help.
And yes, the Mets improved for 2020 because Stroman is better than Wheeler and replacing Vargas shouldn’t be too hard.