It happened again. Just before the All-Star break, the Mets watched a late lead vanish, this time in a lifeless seventh inning that exposed their biggest flaw once more. David Stearns sat silently in the suite, arms crossed, as another reliever failed to command the strike zone. The Mets, still clinging to postseason hopes, had burned through too many bullpen arms already. Injuries to A.J. Minter, Dedniel Núñez, and Danny Young haven’t just thinned the depth; they’ve left Stearns with no choice but to look outward.

One name has jumped to the top of his board: Kyle Finnegan. The Nationals’ 33-year-old right-handed pitcher has stood out as one of the positives in a struggling Washington bullpen with his impressive stats. A 2.49 ERA and a WHIP of less than 1.00. While also managing to secure 17 saves in crucial moments without much fanfare. On a $6 million expiring contract, he’s the exact type of plug-and-play arm playoff hopefuls covet. And make no mistake, he’s available. The Nationals, nowhere near contention, are ready to deal.

That’s where the real problem begins. The Phillies want him, too.

With José Alvarado suspended 80 games for PEDs and Craig Kimbrel long gone, Philly’s late-inning relief corps has turned into a guessing game. Dave Dombrowski doesn’t usually hesitate in situations like this, and multiple league sources believe the Phillies are pressing hard to get Finnegan first. That’s put Stearns in a position he’s tried to avoid: a bidding war within the division, with the season hanging in the balance.

And while Stearns is known for being calculated, even patient, this deadline feels different. The Mets’ bullpen ERA sits among the bottom third in the league. The rotation has shouldered too much of the burden. And with the Braves and Marlins fading, the Wild Card race is suddenly wide open. The time to pounce is now.

Washington, of course, is loving every second of it. The Nationals are reportedly leveraging the Mets-Phillies rivalry to drive up the asking price, likely seeking upper-minors arms or MLB-ready relievers in return. For Philly, it’s a matter of need. For New York, it’s about timing and survival.

If Finnegan lands in the Bronx suburbs, the Mets can patch a wound. If he ends up in Philly? That wound might split wide open before August even begins.

Mets’ bullpen woes come to a head.

The Mets find themselves in a difficult spot with their bullpen lately. The situation seems to be worsening every game they play out there on the field. For instance in the match against Atlanta on June 24th, Frankie Montas was on fire for five innings while New York held onto a 3-0 lead going into the inning only to witness their relief pitchers get cold under pressure. Atlanta suddenly turned things around scoring five runs in that inning. That setback ultimately led to a disappointing 7-4 defeat, for the Mets. It was a reminder that even elite starting performances can go to waste when the backend explodes.

Just a few weeks later, New York found itself on the wrong end of another meltdown, this time against Baltimore. After David Peterson kept the Orioles off the sheet for seven scoreless innings, Ryne Stanek took the bump in the eighth and immediately surrendered a two-run homer. From there, the floodgates opened: walks, a sac fly, and the deficit ballooned to 3–1. The Mets never recovered . Every misstep magnified their fragility, and Carlos Mendoza’s frustration bubbled to the surface.

It’s not just the collapses, it’s when they happen. The Mets have lost 12 games this season when leading after the sixth inning, a stat that should set off alarm bells in any front office. Their relievers have allowed a league-worst .287 opponent batting average in high-leverage spots since June 1.

Whether it’s the command vanishing late or inherited runners scoring in bunches, the trend is clear: when the stakes rise, the Mets’ bullpen fades. No surprise fans are growing restless, and so is the dugout.