Tue Jul 29 04:50:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article rewrite of the provided text:

**Summary:**

The New York Mets are riding a seven-game winning streak after sweeping the San Francisco Giants, raising questions about how much they need to improve before the upcoming Trade Deadline. While relief pitching is still a priority, the team’s recent performance suggests they may be better off than previously thought in several areas. Francisco Alvarez’s resurgence at catcher, the unexpected contributions from Brett Baty and Ronny Mauricio at third base, and Jeff McNeil’s solid play in center field are all exceeding expectations. Even Kodai Senga, despite some inconsistency, is performing well as a starter. While potential upgrades are still on the table, the Mets’ internal improvements are making them less desperate to make major trades.

**News Article:**

**Mets Surge Creates Trade Deadline Dilemma: Are Upgrades Really Needed?**

SAN FRANCISCO – The New York Mets continued their hot streak with a 5-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Sunday, completing a series sweep and extending their winning streak to seven games, tying a season high. This unexpected surge has thrown a wrench into the team’s Trade Deadline plans, forcing management to reconsider their perceived needs.

While acquiring a relief pitcher remains a near certainty, the Mets’ recent performance has revealed strengths in areas previously considered weaknesses.

Rookie Ronny Mauricio’s game-tying home run into McCovey Cove was a highlight, while Juan Soto’s go-ahead solo shot sealed the victory. Manager Carlos Mendoza praised the team’s overall performance, stating, “We’re a good team.”

The resurgence of catcher Francisco Alvarez, who struggled earlier in the season, has been a significant boost. Since his return from the minors, Alvarez is batting a blistering .353 with multiple hits, making a trade for a bat less imperative. The third base tandem of Brett Baty and Mauricio has also exceeded expectations, while Jeff McNeil has stepped up admirably in center field, a position he had never played regularly before this season.

Even starting pitcher Kodai Senga, despite some inconsistencies, boasts an impressive 2.00 ERA.

“The Mets are (definitely) just fine at … catcher When the Mets sent Alvarez to Triple-A Syracuse at the end of June, team officials were prepared to leave him there for a significant period of time — as long as it took for Alvarez to begin resembling a Major League hitter again. At the time of his demotion, Alvarez was slashing .236/.319/.333 with a 27.5 percent strikeout rate and six extra-base hits in 138 plate appearances.Within days of going to the Minors, Alvarez began cranking out video-game numbers, which earned him a quick promotion back. His two-hit game Sunday was one of his best offensive performances yet, but hardly his only high point.Since returning from the Minors, Alvarez is slashing .353/.450/.765 with at least one hit in all five games he’s played. His presence has not only lengthened the lineup, but vindicated president of baseball operations David Stearns’ notion that the team doesn’t need to trade for a bat. If Alvarez can maintain this sort of production down the stretch, he’ll be as impactful as anyone the Mets could acquire.The Mets are (probably) just fine at … third base The club’s hot-corner combination of Brett Baty and Mauricio — and sometimes Mark Vientos against lefties — has borne as much fruit as anyone could have envisioned early this year, when Baty was struggling to prove himself as a bona fide big leaguer and Mauricio was confined to the Minors.Earlier this month, the Mets made it known to rival clubs that those two and Luisangel Acuña could be available in trades, according to sources. Since that time, Baty has proven borderline irreplaceable to the Mets’ lineup. While Mauricio hasn’t been nearly as consistent, his raw tools remain apparent. The rookie’s game-tying homer off Rodríguez traveled 398 feet and was just the fourth long ball to splash down there this season.Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball.“It felt really, really good, because I saw a couple of home runs from Barry Bonds hit to the ocean,” Mauricio said. “So that’s pretty good.”Stearns has often espoused the benefits of giving opportunities to young players. His insistence on it has allowed both Baty and Mauricio to grow into roles that don’t need replacing.The Mets are (likely) just fine in … center field This is the lone offensive area Stearns has publicly identified as a place he’d like to upgrade. Tyrone Taylor, while a superlative defender, ranks 224th out of 230 MLB hitters in wRC+ (min. 250 PA). Jose Siri has been on the injured list since mid-April and isn’t close to a return.But Jeff McNeil has performed admirably as a center field fill-in against right-handed pitchers. Since May 27, McNeil ranks third among qualified Mets regulars in batting average and OPS, behind only Soto and Brandon Nimmo. More than that, McNeil has continued to improve in center field — a position that, before this season, he had never played regularly as a professional.“I’m comfortable with him,” Mendoza said.There’s still a chance the Mets make a late Deadline play for Luis Robert Jr., who profiles as the clearest upgrade likely to be available in the coming days. But McNeil’s performance has ensured that Stearns won’t be desperate. His skillset is also a complement to Taylor, who at least provides elite defense on the days he plays. If no center-field trade materializes by Thursday, Mets officials are happy to stick with those two (and potentially Siri late in the season).The Mets are (maybe) just fine at … starting pitcher Kodai Senga remained his usual baffling self on Sunday, at times flashing ace-like ability while also proving both wild and inconsistent. Over five innings, he walked five batters, threw 92 pitches and served up a pair of Matt Chapman homers.That’s the bad news. The good is that Senga still holds a 2.00 ERA, which ranks third among pitchers with at least 80 innings. And the rotation around him is at its healthiest point of the season, with Sean Manaea, David Peterson, Clay Holmes and Frankie Montas all making regular turns.“Given this is my third game back from [the IL], it is about time that I get in a groove,” Senga said through an interpreter.If the Mets can acquire another relief upgrade before Thursday, it will further fortify the pitching staff, ensuring that quality will continue to matter more than quantity for Senga down the stretch.Of course, the possibility of a high-profile rotation addition still exists. If the deal is right, few around Flushing would say no to that.”

President of Baseball Operations David Stearns’ philosophy of giving young players opportunities is paying dividends. With the Trade Deadline looming on Thursday at 6 p.m. ET, the Mets face a crucial decision: stick with their improved roster or pursue potentially risky upgrades. While a deal for a top-tier player like Luis Robert Jr. remains a possibility, the Mets are no longer in a position of desperation. The question now is not what they need, but what they *want*.

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