Roster retool falls short as Mets eliminated from playoff contention
The New York Mets have fallen short of their 2019 playoff goal.
After rookie general manager Brodie Van Wagenen anointed his club "the favorites in the division" this past winter, the Mets were officially eliminated from postseason play for a third straight season when the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night.
Van Wagenen orchestrated an aggressive offseason, acquiring 2018 AL Reliever of the Year Edwin Diaz from the Seattle Mariners for top prospect Jarred Kelenic and taking on Robinson Cano's exorbitant contract to do so. The club also signed Jed Lowrie, Wilson Ramos, and Jeurys Familia.
Despite sitting fourth in the NL East as the trade deadline approached, the front office doubled down on its bullish winter, shipping more prospects - this time a pair of pitchers in Anthony Kay and Simeon Woods Richardson - to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Marcus Stroman.
New York went on a bit of a tear following the deadline splash, opening August with a 15-5 record. But the team ultimately failed to climb higher than third in the division.
At 83-75, the Mets have at least guaranteed themselves a winning record for the first time since 2016 with four games remaining on the schedule.