Going into the 2022 Trade Deadline, the Mets needed a left-handed relief pitcher. Joely Rodriguez had been surprisingly effective for the Mets, but for a team making a playoff push, they really needed to have a better left-handed option out of the bullpen.
Instead of trading for a lefty, the Mets acquired Mychal Givens from the Cubs at the deadline in a move that left most fans and commentators scratching their heads. Sure, Gyvens played under Buck Showalter in Baltimore. And yes, while he had a few moderately successful seasons under his belt and was having a good season, Gyvens didn’t enhance the Mets’ bullpen in the ways they needed.