What happened: With their record buried well below .500, the New York Mets are being framed as sellers heading into the MLB trade deadline. The focus has shifted to which pieces the front office might move and what they could bring back in return.

Why it matters: For a club in this position, the deadline is about recouping value rather than adding for a stretch run, echoing the outlook when the last-place Mets faced a trade-deadline crossroads as July neared. How they navigate the next few weeks will shape the roster's direction into 2027.

What to watch: Watch how aggressively the front office sells as the deadline nears and whether contending clubs line up for their available arms and bats.