Juan Soto seems to be carrying the Mets alone, and it is not enough. He already has 14 home runs this season, and the next closest to him on the team is Marcus Semien with eight. This gap shows one of the issues with the Mets and why their record is 30-38. Across the city, the New York Knicks are making the fans go crazy. They currently lead the San Antonio Spurs 3-1 in the 2026 NBA Finals. It is their championship run that makes the Mets look even worse.

MLB insider Marc Luino recently talked about the Mets’ countless struggles on Foul Territory.

“It’s crazy to say, but they have just so many problems. Their biggest problem is that they don’t just have one problem as you look at the offense,” MLB insider Marc Luino said via Foul Territory.

Every team has players who are struggling. The Yankees have names like Trent Grisham (.232) and Ryan McMahon (.217) struggling to hit. The Cubs have Miguel Amaya (.217) and Ian Happ (.231) struggling at the plate. But those teams have other players stepping up at the right time. For the Mets, aside from Soto, everyone is playing poorly.

Bo Bichette is the prime example of it. The Mets splashed $126 million on him. However, he has hit just six homers while batting at .227.

“While Bichette hit a home run today. Bo Bichette having a .607 OPS on June 11 is pretty unacceptable,” Luino added.

To make matters worse, there are injuries.

“We have no idea when Jorge Polanco is ever going to play for the New York Mets again. Luis Robert. Same thing,” Luino noted. “We have no idea when he’s going to play for the Mets… Clay Holmes broke a bone in his leg. He’s going to be out for some time. Kodai Senga has been injured.”

Polanco’s return has been delayed because he experienced left ankle soreness, causing the team to halt his Triple-A rehab assignment and send him back to New York for further evaluation. Same with Robert, as he is still recovering from a lumbar spine disc herniation. On the pitching side, Holmes is currently recovering from a fractured right fibula and is on a 15-day IL. Senga is currently on the injured list, recovering from lumbar spine inflammation.

So, with such issues, Luino thinks “The biggest issue right now is that they’re the New York Mets, and they seemingly can’t get out of their own way.” Despite splashing $765 million last year on Soto, the Mets failed to secure a playoff berth.

Meanwhile, the Knicks are showing the city of New York their toughness. After grabbing the third seed in the Eastern Conference with a 53-29 regular season record, they are just one win away from the NBA title. In Game 4, they clawed their way back from a 29-point deficit to beat the Spurs 107-106.

“I don’t know if the Mets have that kind of comeback in them,” he added.

For the Mets, having a 30-38 record in June is a major problem. It puts them several games behind the final Wild Card playoff spot. However, if they make the right trades and also get their injured stars back, they might make an astonishing comeback. Just like they did in 2015. That year, as well, the Mets had injuries to star players like David Wright, and their offense was in a slump.

However, with some good trades, they managed to save their season. They brought in slugger Yoenis Cespedes and veteran Juan Uribe. After that, the team went on a winning streak and eventually made it to the World Series, where they lost to the Kansas City Royals.

Right now, a strong trade deadline holds the key for the team.

The Mets are up for an aggressive trade deadline

If the rumors come true, the Mets should have a better-equipped roster after August 3. While there are a few names projected to get away from New York, a few more will enter the city.

The first and perhaps the most rumored name with the Mets is Isaac Paredes. He is a high-contact hitter, something the Mets desperately need. His nine homers at .236 could also be a viable option for the Mets. However, what could the Mets offer in exchange for the Astros? Mark Vientos could be an option. With his right-handed power and cost-effective team control, the 26-year-old infielder/designated hitter is widely viewed as a prime trade candidate ahead of the summer deadline.

However, rumors are rife that the Mets could give up Freddy Peralta, who is on a rental, to acquire a few names. While David Stearns is reportedly not yet aggressively shopping Peralta in hopes of a season turnaround, the Mets’ record till trade deadline could be a determining factor. If they get further away from the Wild Card race, trading away Peralta for a few names could help build a roster for 2027.

In that case, the Mets’ turnaround, like the Knicks’, would stay unachieved this year.