When Joel Sherman sat down with Jon Heyman this week, the tone wasn’t cautious; it was urgent. The kind that grips a fanbase teetering between October dreams and another offseason of what-ifs. The New York Mets, built with big payrolls and even bigger expectations, are staring down a pivotal trade deadline. But here’s the problem: if the postseason started tomorrow, Sean Manaea would start Games 1 and 2. David Peterson would follow. That’s not exactly the kind of front-end rotation blueprint David Stearns imagined when he took over baseball operations.

There’s no denying the Mets have righted their season after a shaky start. Edwin Díaz looks like his old self, the offense is producing, and the vibes are up. But the cracks remain, thin rotation depth, inconsistent late-inning arms, and the looming uncertainty of Díaz’s opt-out clause. The kind of cracks that break wide open in October. This isn’t a team that can afford to tread water at the deadline, and both Sherman and Heyman made it crystal clear: the time for cautious maneuvering is over.

“The Mets are good enough to win a championship this year, and I don’t think he can take a half measure here,” Sherman warned. “They’ve built up the farm system enough to not have a half-measure year.”

And there it is, the line that now sits squarely on David Stearns’ desk. Historically, Stearns thrived by finding value on the fringes. He didn’t overspend, he didn’t overextend. But this isn’t Milwaukee. In Queens, it’s Cohen’s wallet and expectations that stretch far beyond a Wild Card spot.

Heyman echoed the urgency. “Not all these prospects are going to turn into Juan Soto or Pete Alonso,” he said. “Some are going to miss.” That’s the uncomfortable truth Stearns must confront. The Mets are not a someday-maybe contender. Holding onto every prized prospect may feel safe, but it won’t get outs in October.

The window is open, but it’s not guaranteed to stay that way. Díaz could walk. The bullpen could wobble. The rotation might run out of gas. But the moment? It’s here. Stearns has the chips. The only question left is: will he finally push them all in?

Díaz’s future complicates the Mets’ present

Edwin Díaz is pitching like a man on a mission, commanding the zone, flashing 100 mph heat, and reclaiming his status as one of the game’s most dominant closers. But as much as his resurgence has powered the Mets’ second-half push, it’s also triggered an uncomfortable truth: he can walk away after this season.

Díaz holds a player opt-out after this season. If he continues pitching like a top-tier closer, he could very well test the open market, and that possibility is already shaping how the Mets must operate at the deadline.

The Mets, of course, have the financial muscle to keep him. This is Steve Cohen’s empire, after all. But waiting until the offseason to figure it out could be a mistake. Joel Sherman floated a proactive fix during his conversation with Jon Heyman:

“Edwin Diaz can opt out after this season, and now it’s Cohen money, so ultimately they could probably keep Diaz. I think you(Jon Heyman) mentioned something. Why not just add a tack-on year now, and see if you could get that done and keep him? That might be a good idea, but just in case he’s out, help yourself this year and protect yourself for next year because you could win this year.”

And that’s the balancing act: win now, but don’t get caught empty-handed later. Even if Díaz stays, betting everything on one arm in October is a dangerous game. The Mets need reinforcements not just as insurance for a possible opt-out, but as immediate support for a bullpen that leans heavily on him. Waiting for the offseason to address Díaz’s future would be reactive.

Adding a high-leverage arm now, would be the kind of bold, forward-thinking move that signals the Mets are done hedging.