When it comes to overspending and sacrificing the future for a fleeting shot at glory, few franchises can match the Mets. Their history is littered with big splashes and bigger regrets. A pattern that seems to define the team as much as the orange and blue they wear. We still remember the infamous Bobby Bonilla deal, a contract so ill-fated that it turned July 1st into an annual holiday of ridicule. It’s called Bobby Bonilla Day, as deferred payments continue to roll in decades later.

Well, having the wealthiest owner in MLB certainly has its perks. But it also fuels the Mets’ appetite for blockbuster moves that often come at the cost of their farm system. If you remember, they once traded away Nolan Ryan in 1971, a move still etched in franchise lore as one of baseball’s great blunders. And now, history seems to be repeating itself. Just hours before the 2025 trade deadline, the Mets once again doubled down on their tradition of mortgaging tomorrow for today.

MLB insider Jeff Passan confirmed the latest splurge made by the Mets to bolster their bullpen, as he posted on X: “The Cardinals are receiving shortstop Jesus Baez, right-hander Nate Dohm, and right-hander Frank Elissalt from the Mets for Ryan Helsley, sources tell ESPN. The Mets used six players today to get two high-end relievers to put in front of Edwin Díaz.“

Well, the Mets shook up their bullpen in a big way on Wednesday, making a couple of trades to strengthen the arms, but it didn’t come cheap. In total, the Mets gave up six prospects to bring in relievers Tyler Rogers and Ryan Helsley! To grab Rogers from the Giants, they had to send over righty Jose Butto, outfield prospect Drew Gilbert, and pitching prospect Blade Tidwell. Then, they turned to the Cardinals, dealing shortstop Jesus Baez along with pitchers Nate Dohm and Frank Elissalt to land Helsley.

Time will tell if the moves would be detrimental for the Mets, but it clearly shows they are all-in on bolstering their late-inning relief corps before the deadline.

For the fans, though, this doesn’t seem to be right. Because the Mets had to give away their top prospects for two arms, and that, too, in a rental. Both Rogers and Helsley are in the last year of arbitration, and they will hit free agency post-2025. Just to get their service this postseason, the Mets might have ravaged their farm system, per fans.

Fans are calling out the Mets for overspending

Why give away the stars of tomorrow for short-term gains? Baez was the Mets’ No. 8 prospect, flashing big-time power in A-ball, pairing it with a smooth swing and a good feel for hitting. He is also a strong arm in the field. Dohm, the No. 14 prospect, on the other hand, owns a 2.62 ERA over 11 outings this season. And Elissalt is going 4-5 with a 3.04 ERA in 20 appearances. So, two promising talents are gone in the trade, prompting a fan to write, “Mets got fleeced twice in one day.”

For the Cardinals, however, it’s a profitable venture at best. “Cards fans, you got a good return,” wrote another fan. The three prospects coming from the Mets would likely be assigned to the Cardinals’ High-A team, the Peoria Chiefs. And, the Cardinals would reap the benefits in the next few years.

The Phillies just traded closer Jhoan Duran from the Twins, beating the Yankees and Mets. And fans think getting Helsley is the counter-action from the Mets. “Mets are officially confirming their close enough strategy after missing on Jhoan Durán,” a comment read. This season, Helsley is going 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP, racking up 41 SOs in 36 innings. In contrast, Duran is sitting with a 2.01 ERA and 53 SOs. So, the Mets might have selected an apt alternative, but at what cost?

“Mets have given up quite a lot of minor league depth today for some relief pitching rentals. Let’s see how this plays out for them. It’s World Series or bust for the highest payroll in baseball,” another fan chimed in, emphasizing these moves could only be justified by postseason results. After ravaging most of their top prospects, it’s now or never for the Mets. A deviation from the expected postseason outcome would make the entire $337 million payroll go in vain.

“It doesn’t matter if high-market teams get fleeced in a trade; they can just replace their players in free agency eventually. Exactly why baseball needs a salary cap,” one more X user commented. Well, do you think a cash-rich team like the Mets would find it difficult to get back the biggest names from free agency if required during the offseason? We remember Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, and Pete Alonso, but is it viable in the long term?

Nevertheless, the deal is done, and for now, the Mets have got a good insurance cover for Diaz. Now, all eyes will be on how the bullpen performs hereon!