The New York Mets have managed to remain in first place, without getting a single start from ace Jacob deGrom and with fellow starter Max Scherzer on the shelf for an extended period as well. That's very impressive. However, it doesn't mean that New York can just stand pat at the upcoming MLB trade deadline. Quite the opposite. During an appearance on The Show with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman of The New York Post, Mets president Sandy Alderson detailed the club's biggest needs ahead of the deadline, per Audacy Sports.

“We've got among the lowest DH productivity in the game,” he said. “Take Alonso out of it and it's been very poor. Is DH a spot that's going to be highly-competitive in the marketplace? I don't know, maybe, I doubt it. Doesn't mean that some team in our division might not try to hold us up for a top prospect. But again, I think probably an opportunity to improve there.

“And then the bullpen just needs to be strengthened. … We've lost three or four games at least in the last 20 games with home runs late in the game after the starter has departed. That can't continue with a championship team, we can't just keep giving up bombs that determine outcomes. Is the bullpen an area that we'd probably look at? Yeah.”

Alderson didn't hold back, telling Sherman and Heyman that the Mets have among the “lowest DH productivity in the game.” He said that's an area the Mets could certainly look to improve at the MLB trade deadline.

Might the Mets look to the division-rival Washington Nationals and inquire about Nelson Cruz?

Alderson went on to add that the Mets bullpen, which has fallen on hard times as of late, will need “to be strengthened.”

There you have it, folks. Expect the Mets to be actively looking for a bat to slot in as designated hitter, as well as an arm to add to the ‘pen.