​While the Mets have won four of their last five on the field, the front office’s attention is likely fixed on the future and the looming August 3 trade deadline. But who might they part with to reshape the roster? On Thursday, a trade candidate continued to strengthen his case.
Mets outfielder Tyrone Taylor went 2-for-3 with a home run and a double in the Mets’ 7-3 series-clinching win over the Royals. He entered the game in the top of the third inning in center field after third baseman Mark Vientos exited with an injury from a hit-by-pitch, which shuffled the defense. Taylor’s grin widened after he launched a Michael Wacha pitch into the Citi Field seats for his sixth homer of the season, a blast that tied the score at 2 and helped fuel a five-run fifth inning. His double came in the eighth.
“He’s been really good, and he’s an unbelievable teammate,” interim manager Andy Green said. “I’m certain he wants to be out there more consistently than he is, but he’s on the top rail, living and breathing and dying with everybody’s at-bats, pulling for them. He’s just an unbelievable guy to have here.”
Taylor has produced since returning from a month-long stint on the injured list on June 26. In nine games, he’s gone 7-for-17 with three home runs and a 1.444 OPS. His season OPS has climbed from .530 to .667 over that stretch.
Outfield time has been hard to come by because of the breakout seasons from rookies Carson Benge and AJ Ewing, along with Juan Soto’s MVP-caliber year. It figures to become even more crowded as Opening Day center fielder Luis Robert Jr. nears a return from the injured list. Yet Green made it clear he’ll occasionally sit a starter to keep a depth piece like Taylor fresh.
Before Thursday’s game, Green noted, “There are still times when other guys have to get out there to stay usable and impactful. Taylor had a couple starts in Atlanta, homered a couple of times. Those at-bats are important for us, and there are times we’re just going to leave [Ewing] out there because it’s the right thing to do for the game and for him.”
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At this juncture, Taylor—who is a free agent this offseason—may be better suited to a contending team in need of a right-handed bat capable of playing all three outfield positions. On Monday, he was listed at No. 99 on ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan’s Top 100 trade deadline candidates, with six other Mets ahead of him on the list.
Meanwhile, despite the hot stretch, Taylor carries a .219/.246 slash line. The upside remains, but at the moment, the trade market and the Mets’ depth chart will likely dictate whether he remains in New York beyond the deadline.