The New York Mets have made a significant move to bolster their bullpen by acquiring a left-handed reliever, addressing a critical need after losing AJ Mentor and Danny Young earlier in the season. This addition comes at a cost, approximately $4 million, but the Mets are willing to invest as they aim for a strong finish this season. The reliever boasts an impressive strikeout rate and is expected to provide valuable support, particularly against left-handed hitters, which is crucial as the Mets face power hitters like Shohei Ohtani.

Despite this acquisition, discussions continue around the need for additional starting pitching. The Mets' bullpen struggles are evident, with a 5.42 ERA since June, ranking them 23rd in the league. The front office acknowledges the necessity for more depth and high-leverage options as they prepare for the postseason. The Mets have a clear plan to enhance their roster in the lead-up to the trade deadline, ensuring they remain competitive in their playoff pursuit.

In a recent episode of Fantasy Baseball Today, the hosts outlined their redraft for the first two rounds of the fantasy baseball season, taking into account players' performances and projections for the rest of the year. The discussion kicked off with a review of notable highlights from the first half of the season, including Pete Crow-Armstrong's unexpected success, being a topic of heated debate among fantasy players. The home run derby results were also a point of interest, notably with 'Big Dumper' winning and the impressive distance hit by O'Neal Cruz. As they moved into the redraft, Aaron Judge was unanimously selected as the top pick, followed by Shohei Ohtani, whose continued dual-threat performance keeps him high on draft lists. Other standout picks included Bobby Witt Jr., Ronald Acuña Jr., and Cal Raleigh, with discussions focusing on the potential impacts of each player moving forward.

The Los Angeles Dodgers currently face a long losing streak, raising questions about their team performance as the All-Star break approaches. Despite their struggles, experts suggest they aren't in dire straits and can recover. Key to their turnaround may involve bolstering their bullpen, with many potential trade targets like Griffin Jax and Emanuel Clase likely to spark interest. The Dodgers have also been hit with injuries, notably Max Muncy, who is crucial to their offense. If he returns healthy, it could significantly improve their batting lineup.

As for their starting rotation, uncertainties linger, particularly around the health of key pitchers such as Clayton Kershaw, Tyler Glasnow, and Shohei Ohtani. Kershaw, despite age and velocity decline, has shown he can still deliver, posting an impressive ERA. The Dodgers may be cautious, preferring to rely on their current arms than aggressively pursue new starters at the trade deadline.