The Mets came back and beat the Nationals on Thursday, but they also began to raise the white flag on their season, trading closer David Robertson to the Marlins.
It’s the first of what figure to be numerous moves before the trade deadline this coming Tuesday, as the Mets come to grips with their almost nonexistent playoff hopes.
“I figured I’d be moved, but I didn’t know where,’’ Robertson said following the Mets’ 2-1 win over Washington at Citi Field. “We had the guys to get it done. We just weren’t able to.”
In exchange for Robertson, who is having another terrific season, the Mets received a pair of minor leaguers, infielder Marco Vargas and catcher Ronald Hernandez, from Miami.
General manager Billy Eppler and the rest of the front office must now decide who else to deal before Tuesday. Reliever Brooks Raley and outfielders Tommy Pham and Mark Canha all are potential candidates to go, as are more high-priced veterans, including starter Justin Verlander.
“It’s not where we want to be,’’ Eppler said following the trade. “It’s not what we want to be doing. It’s tough. We didn’t have visions of this at the start of the season.”
Shipping Robertson to an NL East rival certainly seems to indicate the beginning of the end for this disappointing group, which is 48-54 and seven games out of a wild-card spot, but the players and manager Buck Showalter weren’t ready to give up the fight just yet.
“The only thing we can control is winning ball games,’’ Pete Alonso said. “Whoever is in this clubhouse, that’s our job. … Just because we’re selling doesn’t mean our season is over. We still have a ton of talent and we still have a chance.”
Asked if he believed the trade was a signal the front office was moving on from this roster, Francisco Lindor said: “I’m not sure moving on. We’re moving on from a player like [Robertson] and maybe some other player, but I don’t think [the front office] have moved on from having playoff hopes. We definitely haven’t moved on from it. I know the coaches haven’t.”
Showalter had said, “Let’s see,” when discussing the premise of the front office potentially breaking up the roster by Tuesday.
Because the trade hadn’t been finalized by the end of the game, Showalter declined to discuss the specifics about what it might mean for his team. He did acknowledge the importance of Robertson to a bullpen that has been without Edwin Diaz, who has been out all year after he suffered a knee injury during the World Baseball Classic.
“[Robertson]’s been a rock,’’ Showalter said. “But we’ve got some other people out there capable of doing it.’’
Everything to know about the Mets' historic sell-off
After a disappointing season, the Mets are selling off their historically expensive roster.
The Amazins dealt out some big name players before the MLB trade deadline — including now-former co-aces Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer.
Below are the players the Mets have shipped out:
Tommy Pham
The Mets traded the outfielder minutes before the 6 p.m. deadline to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Arizona is sending back 17-year shortstop Jeremy Rodriguez, who has a .751 OPS rookie ball this season.
Justin Verlander
The Mets traded out Verlander, a sure-fire Hall of Fame pitcher, back to his former team, the Houston Astros.
The Amazins reportedly will receive top Astros prospect Drew Gilbert, a Double-A outfielder, and 20-year-old outfielder Ryan Clifford, who owns a .919 OPS through 83 games in Low- and High-A this year.
Max Scherzer
Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young winner that was a co-ace with Verlander, was sold off to the Texas Rangers.
The Mets landed one of the Rangers’ top prospects, Double-A infielder Luisangel Acu?a, brother of Braves star Ronald Acu?a.
Mark Canha
The veteran outfielder was dealt to the Brewers for Justin Jarvis, a promising 23-year-old pitcher that was ranked No. 12 in the Brewers’ farm system.
David Robertson
The Mets traded closer David Robertson to the Miami Marlins, a move that started off the club’s deadline dismantle.
In exchange for Robertson, who is having another terrific season, the Mets received a pair of minor leaguers, infielder Marco Vargas and catcher Ronald Hernandez, from Miami.
Robertson had warmed up to pitch Thursday before a 97-minute rain delay in the bottom of the eighth inning gave the Mets more time to work out the deal and get the final offer from Miami.
“We were faced with the situation where we had a number of calls on our players,’’ Eppler said. “And we were listening, in the circumstances we’re in. The value of the players [in return] exceeded our expectations.”
“We’re gonna miss him,’’ said Raley, who picked up the save on Thursday and may be among the next to go.
“There’s a lot of fight in this clubhouse and the guys that remain here will continue to fight. Realistically, we’re all human beings and we know how things go. Just be present and do the job you’re asked to do and do it well.”