Mets’ World Series Odds +10000 After Acquiring Marcus Stroman

• The New York Mets have acquired Marcus Stroman
• The Mets will have control of Stroman in 2020 via arbitration
• New York are 11.5 games out of first place in the National League East

The New York Mets surprised a lot of people when they acquired Marcus Stroman right before the trade deadline. The Mets have been a struggling outfit and were supposed to be sellers. Instead, they acquired one of the top pitchers on the market. Their World Series odds are at +10000 but are they worth a bet?

2019 World Series Odds

*Odds taken July 29, 2019

Mets Acquire Stroman

The Mets front office has been hard to figure out for a long time but Sunday’s move is a real head scratcher. The team that’s five games below .500 and is 11.5 games back in the National League East just picked up the Toronto Blue Jays’ ace.

The move is more likely about 2020 than it is 2019 as Stroman is under contract for next season. However, the Mets have been trying to trade their own stud, Noah Syndergaard, so it’s not quite clear what the plan is here. Is this part of a greater plan? Are the Mets just looking to 2020? We’re not quite sure.

Could They Flip Him?

The Mets did give up a couple of prospects but it’s not exactly the bounty that the Blue Jays were hoping to get. The Jays received Anthony Kay and Simeon Woods-Richardson, who are the Mets No. 4 and No. 6 ranked prospects. Maybe the Mets feel like they can get more for him in the next couple of days?

Or maybe the Mets plan to keep Stroman but trade Syndergaard and/or Zack Wheeler, which would then allow them to replenish their prospect pool? It’s not quite clear. The Mets are rebuilding – or need to – and when you combined the fact that they gave up blue-chip prospects in a deal with the Seattle Mariners last season, they nee to reinfuse their farm system.

Stroman in Midst of Career Year

There’s no question that Stroman is a strong addition for any team – Mets included. He’s posted at 2.96 ERA in 21 starts this season with a 1.23 WHIP. He hasn’t had a WHIP this low in any of the last four seasons. He’ll go into arbitration this offseason and while the Mets still control him, he’ll be getting a big raise.

The move does make sense in some ways as Stroman is close friends with another starting pitcher on the team, Steven Matz. Stroman was also born and raised in the New York area, so he’ll be pretty stoked to go home. However, he can’t do a whole lot to save the Mets season.

What’s the Best Bet?

The Mets have won four straight and 10 of 14, but I have no interest in betting this team to win the World Series. Sure, they have a fine rotation with Jacob DeGrom, Matz, Wheeler, Syndergaard and Stroman. If Syndergaard was pitching to his potential, that might be as good a rotation as anyone.

However, he’s been off, so has Matz and the Mets have so many other issues. Don’t bet them to win the World Series this year as they’re simply not worth it.