Mets' bullpen likely to be a major focus of upcoming fire sale as trade deadline approaches

A.J. Minter was standing by his locker stall on the right-side row in the home clubhouse Friday night at Citi Field before the Mets-Dodgers game. But it likely isn’t going to be the reliever’s locker stall for much longer. And he knows that.

The Mets have a “For Sale” sign up heading toward the trade deadline on Aug. 3 because these sellers haven’t been winning.

“I wish it could be different, obviously,” Minter told Newsday. “But at the same time, selfishly I want to go compete for a World Series. And hopefully I can get that opportunity. That’s all you can ask for. That’s why we play this sport, to win.”

The Mets fell to 43-62 after losing two games to the Dodgers, 4-2 on Friday and 4-3 on Saturday. There aren’t a lot of untouchables here.

“I’m extremely disappointed that we’re in this situation,” said David Stearns, who as president of baseball operations is the architect of this team, which should look a little different come a week from Monday.

Stearns will begin retooling with the intent of contending next season. Many of the guys don’t know if they’re going to have a new address shortly, and the ones who are sure they will can only wonder where.

All are left to deal with the uncertainty.

Minter, for one, knows he’s a very logical candidate to go because he has an expiring contract. The 32-year-old lefty and second-year Met, who was 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA in 22 games entering the weekend after returning on May 26 from last year’s left lat surgery, hopes he will be worth “a little prospect” for the Mets as part of the exchange rate.

But how is he coping with the idea that the end here almost surely is coming? Basically with acceptance.

“It’s all new for me,” he said. “But I’ve been in this game long enough. I know how it goes. It’s a business. I know where we stand as a team and the direction we’re going. I think I’m viewing it as an opportunity.

“Of course I want to help this organization out as much as I can. They’ve done everything for me. They’ve taken care of me. I’ve been through two big surgeries. I wish I could’ve done more, obviously.”

Juan Soto, who was placed on the 10-day injured list before Saturday’s game with a Grade 2 left calf strain, and four young guys, outfielders Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing and starters Nolan McLean and Christian Scott, should be able to sleep soundly. Maybe promising rookie lefty Zac Thornton, too.

Perhaps Francisco Lindor also is in that group. Stearns indicated Lindor is part of the core, although he wouldn’t rule anything in or out for any specific player even though Lindor has a no-trade clause and five-plus years left on his 10-year, $341 million contract.

“I think we’re all professionals,” Minter said regarding the clubhouse atmosphere. “We all know where we’re at.

“But I do expect this team to go out there and compete every day [after the deadline]. There’s a lot of young talent in this room [that] the fan base and the organization have a lot of hope for. And I fully expect them to go out there and develop these guys and prepare for the future and just keep playing for each other.”

Fellow reliever Brooks Raley also figures to have his expiring contract sent elsewhere. The bullpen could take even more hits. Luke Weaver is an attention-grabber. He has excelled and is signed for 2027. Huascar Brazoban could be an attractive chip, too.

“It’s definitely sad to break up this group,” Minter said, “but I’ve enjoyed my time here.”

From the rotation, Freddy Peralta didn’t live up to the advertising in this walk year and is expected to be sent outbound.

Then there’s Clay Holmes. The steady 33-year-old righty is due back soon after recovering from a fractured fibula. He can opt out after the season. He’s open to an extension, but when asked about the status of talks, he said, “I don’t think there’s been a ton there.”

Holmes could make another rehab start and then make his next major-league start for another team.

“It’s a unique scenario,” he said. “Sometimes it’s easy to let your mind wonder.”

Outfielders Luis Robert Jr. and Tyrone Taylor and infielder Bo Bichette could draw interest. Bichette’s situation is complicated, though; he has an opt-out after the 2026 and 2027 seasons included in his three-year, $126 million deal, plus a no-trade clause.

Francisco Alvarez and Luis Torrens should be attracting attention, but it could be hard to adequately replace those catchers.

Certainly, interim manager Andy Green knows this isn’t an easy time with all the trade talk.

“It’s human nature to think about what happens next in life before you get there,” he said. “I have those conversations with every guy [whose] name gets bandied about. I tend to go to [him] and say, ‘I’m not going to bring this up, but if you want to talk about anything, I’ll tell you everything I know at any moment you’d like to know it.’

“I think all of them realize the healthiest thing for them is not to be focused on that and to just be focused on their work every day and be focused on winning a baseball game.”

As for Minter, well, he’s open to re-signing, saying this organization wants to win.

“That’s not the case with every organization,” he said. “So I would definitely entertain the idea of coming back here.”