Mets’ deadline decisions following in footsteps of recent World Series champions

With a focus on improving the bullpen, are the New York Mets following in the footsteps of recent champions?

Sep 28, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; New York Mets president of baseball operations David Sterns watches batting practice before a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

The New York Mets have wrapped up the trade deadline and made some significant improvements for their team.

Coming into the deadline, the Mets figured to be a team that was looking to improve with the National League East being a tight race with a rival. As expected, the Philadelphia Phillies made a major splash with the addition of Jhoan Duran as their new closer; furthermore, they added outfielder Harrison Bader to provide some additional outfield depth.

However, New York arguably did better than Philadelphia at the deadline with the additions of Gregory Soto, Tyler Rogers, Cedric Mullins, and Ryan Helsley. With three of those acquisitions being relief pitchers, the Mets had a clear goal in mind to strengthen their bullpen. Due to the team already having an elite closer in Edwin Diaz, adding another closer in Helsley to go along with one of the best setup men in Rogers has created one of the top units in the league on paper.

The back of the Mets bullpen is looking scary after their latest acquisitions 🧟‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/QuJfbVplAt

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 30, 2025

David Schoenfield of ESPN recently wrote about bullpen additions at the trade deadline helping set the Mets up for success in October baseball.

“With Diaz, Reed Garrett, Ryne Stanek and Brooks Raley already on the roster, this pen is now loaded. October baseball is a different game than the regular season: There are more days off, which makes it even easier to go heavy on the bullpen.”

While pitching has always been important in the postseason, the focus in recent years for champions has been on having an elite bullpen. Three of the last four champions have had amazing bullpens, which has become the norm for success in the playoffs.

Read More: Mets' bullpen-heavy approach at the deadline is a championship formula

The Los Angeles Dodgers proved last year, with starters sometimes not even going five innings, that a strong bullpen can carry a team in October. The Mets saw this used against them first-hand last year, with the Dodgers eliminating them in a bullpen game.

With the additions that New York made before the trade deadline, expect to see them following in those footsteps. If the Mets get four good innings out of a starting pitcher in the playoffs, they now have the weapons to be able to go to the bullpen and have a lot of confidence that they can win a game.

Whether it was intentional or not by David Stearns, New York has copied some recent champions who have had success in October because of an elite bullpen.