The narrative all offseason has been that David Stearns has been prioritizing financial restraint over big splashes as he reshapes the New York Mets' roster. That's why he let Pete Alonso walk away without much of a fight, why he's been slow to add a top-of-the-rotation arm, and why he's plundered struggling relievers from the New York Yankees over breaking the bank for first-tier options.
Just about a month ago, when trade talks with the San Diego Padres were supposedly hot and heavy, it was speculated that the Mets would target several cheaper alternatives residing on San Diego's roster — Ramon Laureano over Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger, Nick Pivetta over Framber Valdez — in an effort to build a unit that was greater than the sum of its parts.