In a catastrophic season, the Mets have every reason to ahead to 2024 and start preparing for the August 1 trade deadline.

For the team with one of the highest payrolls in MLB history, admitting that they're going to be sellers at the MLB trade deadline can be a tough pill to swallow.

The New York Mets' 2023 season has not gone according to plan. Their abysmal 43-50 record stands as evidence of their poor roster building choices last offseason.

Two of those choices are signing veterans Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer, both of whom have declined this year to the point where they could be considered trade candidates come August 1.

The New York Post's Joel Sherman detailed his recent interaction with Mets manager Buck Showalter. Showalter left him a set of clues in a pregame presser; Sherman solved the puzzle. The Mets may seriously consider shopping Verlander at the deadline despite a begrudging unwillingness to admit their mistakes.

Because to sell Verlander or Scherzer would be to admit a massive, irredeemable mistake.

Both Verlander and Scherzer have no-trade clauses, and both are also barreling toward age 40. Verlander has a $35 million conditional player option for 2025, and Scherzer has a roughly $43 million player option next season.

In the next few weeks, the Mets have to ask themselves what those veteran pitchers could give them in term of a fair return. It may not be much.

Mets signal that Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer may be trade candidates

Sherman's sources claim the Mets are indeed open for business this summer, and Sherman himself believes owner Steve Cohen could move both veterans since he isn't scared of the "big play."

Per the NY Post:

So, [Cohen] will not be afraid to authorize their trade(s) if he thinks that brings the Mets closer to the franchise he envisions — and it isn't like it will scare him from trying to replace that duo with a Shohei Ohtani or Aaron Nola or Blake Snell come the offseason.

There are Mets players on expiring who are clearly up for sale, like David Robertson, Mark Canha, and Tommy Pham. And then there are Mets players a step above with a higher pedigree like Verlander and Scherzer who, depending on the offer, could be made available.

New York hasn't been a very aggressive seller in recent years and may opt for a hybrid approach in which they trade a few players and then close up shop.

But if Cohen is willing to eat dead money and potentially inject new blood next year (the Ohtani rumors will never die), getting rid of the underperforming vets is the clear path forward.