Just Mets

Baseball executives have always shared their confidence in the Mets ability to invest in the club’s roster when the time was right, despite questions surrounding the organization about their ability to make such investments.

The time truly came this past spring and summer, as the Mets found themselves not only in a pennant race, but at or close to the top of two different playoff races as the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline drew closer.

So, the Mets did what most contending teams would do: they added four new, quality players to the roster before the deadline, and one afterwards.

And, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred is pleased with the Mets and their maneuvering this summer.

“I said the Wilpons had the resources and the desire to spend when they were in a position to spend effectively,” Manfred said at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, according to the Daily News. “And I think what they did at the trade deadline is really solid proof of that.”

Indeed it is. The Mets added quality, versatile depth in Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson, then made their, “big splash” in acquiring Yoenis Cespedes from the Tigers just minutes before the deadline passed.

They did all of this while holding on to all of their top pitchers and top hitting prospects in the minor leagues.

It was quite impressive, and it has seemed to rejuvenate the Mets and the fan base for the final third of the regular season.

Of course, the next test for the organization is in their willingness and ability to retain a player such as Cespedes, and augment the roster around what they currently have while managing raises through arbitration for Matt Harvey, among others, this winter.

As for this season, Manfred is thrilled the Mets and the Yankees are in the playoff hunt, and seemed hopeful both teams would be playing beyond October 4.

“I have to say it’s a great thing for our game,” Manfred said. “In terms of our fans, to have two New York teams in the hunt, it’s a good thing.”