Mets planning for now and later as Gregory Soto trade nets potential postseason weapon
The addition of Gregory Soto on Friday threaded that needle in their view — a reliever for now and later.
The Mets have nothing assured, but have pretty strong odds on making the postseason for consecutive years for just the third time in their history and – in the best outcome – winning the NL East for the first time since 2015 with one of the two best NL records to gain a first-round bye.
They have to go through Philadelphia to win the division and have seven games remaining against the Phillies. For most of this season, they lacked a lefty reliever they would feel comfortable unleashing on Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber. But Brooks Raley made his return after Tommy John surgery on July 19 and so far, so good on how he has looked, and they obtained the hard-throwing Soto from the Orioles for pitching prospects Wellington Aracena and Cameron Foster.
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10 Most Overrated NBA Players In The Last 10 Years
10 Most Overrated NBA Players In The Last 10 Years originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Ladies and gentlemen, this is an unapologetic exposé on the NBA players of the last ten years who were given far more credit than they actually earned. Specifically, players who strutted as superstars but delivered nothing beyond box-score volume or fanfare. We have cut through the hype, scrutinized impact across playoffs, contracts, and peer perception, and built a ranking that's bold but frankly overdue. Let's unpack who was truly overrated and why their status has unraveled under pressure. 1. Ben Simmons From the moment he was hyped as the next LeBron James, Ben Simmons has lived under a burden of expectation he never came close to shouldering. Sure, he's a defensive disruptor and a pass-first giant, but that's only half the story. He refused to shoot from distance, crumbled under pressure (hello, 2021 playoff Game 7 no-dunk moment), and has turned into the most overrated No. 1 pick in decades. That fear of failure hasn't just cost him buckets, it's cost him credibility. And let's not sugarcoat it: Simmons' inability and apparent unwillingness to build even a basic jump shot have made him a non-factor in today's NBA. Possessing a $40M ceiling over the past few seasons but delivering sub-$10M impact? That's why scouts now whisper he's 'never again All-Star-level', a harsh label, but the truth stings. 2. Zion Williamson Zion Williamson carried monumental hype: Duke phenom, generational talent, yet the reality has been far less swish than the banner headlines. Fans forget he's only played 214 out of a possible 492 games in six years, a shocking figure. When healthy, yes, he had that thunderous low-post game. 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And let's face it: even critics who love his interior presence say he 'can get played off the floor,' pointing to his struggles when opponents attack him outside the paint. If the game keeps shifting to pace-and-space, Gobert feels like a last-gen relic. 4. Paul George Paul George arrived in Philadelphia on the back of an eye-catching resume, nine All-Star nods, four All-Defensive honors, and playoff expectations that bordered on franchise-saver status. Instead? A $212 million contract that has so far felt more like an albatross than an asset. Despite the hype, his production has dipped dramatically: averaging just 16.2 PPG, his shooting and efficiency have cratered to career lows, all while Philly floundered with an uninspiring record and no cohesion around him. But it's more than the stats. George has publicly whined about boredom while playing center in Joel Embiid's stead, signaling a lack of seriousness on the court, something critic Bill Simmons called tone-deaf. 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He might have proven that he is a prime example of stats padding over substance and has been for years. Inefficient scoring, bloated usage rates, and a locker room reputation that screamed 'disruptive' rather than 'electric'. Even Denver's gamble to plug him in off the bench fell flat, he unsettled the rotation and didn't deliver enough to dull the concerns. The legend's endurance can't mask the awkwardness of an MVP turned awkward narrative footnote. We hope Russ can find a proper ending to his career because we haven't seen many stat-sheet stuffers better than him in NBA history. Is that all he will be remembered for? Most likely. 10. Kristaps Porzingis The Unicorn flashed All-Star potential in Washington and Dallas, but every season since, injuries and mismatches have derailed him. He never evolved into a pillar; just a rollercoaster with broken tracks. When you're one MRI away from disappearing for months, hype dies hard. 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New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Mets' Starling Marte ‘didn't miss a beat' in return from injury
Access the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. Try it free SAN FRANCISCO — Starling Marte was contributing offensively for the Mets before he hit the injured list in early July, and since his return, he has regained that momentum. The veteran DH now has six hits in his 10 at-bats since his activation from the IL last week after going 2-for-3 with a walk in the Mets' 5-3 win over the Giants on Sunday. Marte missed two weeks after receiving a gel injection for discomfort in his right knee. 'He's been huge,' manager Carlos Mendoza said before the victory. 'He continues to give us solid at-bats against lefties, righties. He goes down and missed a few days, and then he comes back and seems like he didn't miss a beat.' 3 Starling Marte #6 of the New York Mets reacts after hitting a double in the top of the fourth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on July 26, 2025 in San Francisco, California. Getty Images Marte entered play with a .262/.364/.412 slash line with four homers and 20 RBIs. In the starting lineup again Sunday, Marte reached base three times for the second straight day. Mendoza's other option would have been to start Mark Vientos as the DH. 'I am going to try to keep [Marte] in the lineup, but at the same time, I am going to continue to monitor him,' Mendoza said. 'I'm going to continue to give him days off and get his feedback. He's usually pretty honest with us, so we'll go game by game and series by series.' 3 Starling Marte #6, Juan Soto #22 and Ronny Mauricio #10 of the New York Mets celebrates in the dugout after Soto hit a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the seventh inning at Oracle Park on July 27, 2025 in San Francisco, California. Getty Images Paul Blackburn was sharp in a potential final rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse. The right-hander allowed one earned run on five hits with six strikeouts and one walk over 6 ¹/₃ innings. Blackburn, who is rehabbing a shoulder impingement, could next rejoin the team as a long reliever/sixth starter, but Mendoza indicated a decision won't be reached until at least Monday. Delivering insights on all things Amazin's Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+ Thank you Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Check out more newsletters Edwin Díaz extended his scoreless streak to 17 innings since June 6 by pitching a scoreless ninth Sunday. He loaded the bases on two walks and a hit batter but pitched out of trouble to earn his 23rd save in 25 chances this season. 3 Mets pitcher Edwin Díaz celebrates against the San Francisco Giants during the ninth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, July 27, 2025. AP The All-Star closer has allowed only one earned run over his past 32 appearances, owning a 4-0 record with 17 saves since April 23. Jose Siri, who has been sidelined since April with a fractured left tibia, still isn't close to resuming baseball activities, but it's still expected he will play again this season, according to Mendoza. Siri's workouts have consisted of running in a pool to strengthen the leg.
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2 hours ago
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Mauricio and Soto lead Mets past Giants 5-3 for 7th straight win
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