The Aug. 1 trade deadline is shaping up to look a lot different than the Mets had hoped, as owner Steve Cohen didn’t rule out being a seller if the team continues to flail.
Asked if he would consider waiving his no-trade clause if that were to happen, Max Scherzer said he wouldn’t comment until Cohen says he is going to look to get rid of veterans.
“I’ll comment when Steve says ‘sell,’ ” Scherzer said after he gave up two runs in six innings in a 3-2 loss to the Brewers on Thursday at Citi Field. “Until then, it’s pointless. He drives this, so it’s pointless to talk about anything in the contract. I’m here to show up to win. That’s all I’m here to do. I continue to believe that we’re gonna win.”
Scherzer’s high-priced co-ace, Justin Verlander, also wouldn’t discuss potentially waiving his full no-trade clause if things went south before the deadline, but he sounded like a player that expects to stick around and help change the direction of the 2023 season.
“Everyone has seen flashes of it and I keep saying if I was on the other side, we would be a team that every time we come here to play, I’d say, ‘I hope this isn’t when they click,’ ” Verlander said before Thursday’s loss. “And as a playoff team, I wouldn’t want to face us.’’
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But he also understands the reality of the situation the team finds itself in.
“All that being said, it needs to click and we need to make it there,’’ Verlander said. “I believe in this team, but we need to prove it.”
Jose Quintana is scheduled to make another rehab start with Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, although that location could change depending on the weather conditions.
Beyond that, manager Buck Showalter said the lefty may have one more rehab outing before making his season debut for the Mets, which might come before the All-Star break, depending on several factors.
First will be how Quintana comes out of Friday’s start, as he comes back from rib surgery. He previously experienced some tightness in his side, but has felt good since his last rehab start with High-A Brooklyn.
And since he’s only expected to throw around 65 pitches on Friday, Quintana may not be built up enough to be added to the major league rotation.
“It’s also [about] where your bullpen is, because he won’t be able to go seven innings,’’ Showalter said.
To even get to that point, though, Showalter said Quintana and the Mets have “bridges to cross before that happens.”
On Wednesday, the Mets were down by two runs at the end of the first inning and for the season, had been outscored 59-23.
“It’s something we’re aware of,’’ Buck Showalter said before Thursday’s loss. “We need to [do better]. It’s not good.”
While they are trying to figure out why they’ve scored only 23 runs in opening innings, pitching coach Jeremy Hefner is hopeful he has an idea of why they’ve pitched to a 6.08 ERA (fifth worst in the majors) during the first.
“Our walks are up in the first inning,’’ Hefner said. “That’s what’s caught my attention.”
Hefner pointed to Kodai Senga, who allowed the pair of runs in the first on Wednesday nad has walked 14 batters in the first over his 15 starts.
But his ERA in the frame is 4.20, which is far from the worst among the rotation.
Carlos Carrasco has a 9.00 ERA in his 10 starts and Verlander is at 6.30 ERA, while Wednesday’s starter, Scherzer, was at 4.15 prior to Wednesday.
Since-demoted Tylor Megill is at 5.40.
“We just have to make better pitches,” Hefner said. “Maybe we’re not attacking as much as we do later in the game.”
And he believes it’s mostly about adjusting the mindset.
“I don’t think it’s how we’re warming up,’’ Hefner said. “I don’t think it’s how we’re preparing. It’s [about] having an attack mentality right out of the chute.”
The Mets, as with so many aspects of their game, didn’t have this issue a year ago, although their mark in 2022 was not spectacular, 4.39.
As for the offense, which is ranked last in the majors in first-inning runs, Showalter said, “I wish I had an answer.”
No Mets were voted in as All-Star starters when results were released Thursday, as Atlanta’s Orlando Arcia beat out Francisco Lindor at shortstop.
Daniel Vogelbach would be tied for fourth in pitches per plate appearance (4.36) if he had enough at-bats, but Showalter also wants him to be aggressive early in counts.
“He’s a very selective guy and we don’t want him to get too far away from that,’’ Showalter said. “But we want him to send that message, ‘If you throw a hittable pitch early, he will jump you.’ ”