This was not a playoff team in October. Or a contender in September. This was the bad-bullpen, meh-lineup Nationals playing for nothing in July.

If the weekend series against the Cincinnati Reds didn’t already make it clear, the Mets will be looking for bullpen help at the trade deadline on July 31.

The New York Mets need to add pitching ahead of the trade deadline, but there's a chance they also pursue Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan.