Mets plan to select Cristian Pache and Nate Lavender, among others, to fill post-deadline roster spots

The New York Mets are expected to make a flurry of roster moves to replace players they shipped out ahead of the August trade deadline, with the latest reports pointing to multiple selections that will put new names in the organization’s day-to-day mix. According to Will Sammon of The Athletic, the Mets plan to select outfielder Cristian Pache and right-hander Nate Lavender, along with pitcher Dedniel Núñez, pitcher Jefry Yan, right-hander Chayce McDermott, and left-hander Xzavion Curry, as they fill open roster spots left by their deadline sales.

In MLB, moving players off a major-league roster creates openings not just on the active list, but also in the organization’s overall staffing plans. While some additions can come from players already on the 40-man roster, others require a selection that formally brings the player into the team’s 40-man pool. The report specifically notes that Pache and Lavender would need to be selected to the 40-man roster to complete the Mets’ plan.

Cristian Pache is the most prominent position player named in the group, and his inclusion suggests New York is prioritizing immediate depth in the outfield. For teams that have traded veterans away, late-season roster balancing often turns on getting enough bodies who can cover multiple roles, handle spot starts, and provide reliable defense. Pache’s selection, as described in the reporting, fits that pattern, pairing a new outfield look with the rest of the club’s pitching reinforcements.

The Mets’ pitching additions cover both right-handed and left-handed arms, indicating the selections are not simply about volume, but about variety. Dedniel Núñez, Jefry Yan, Chayce McDermott, and Xzavion Curry are all listed as part of the group intended to fill roster spots. That distribution can matter over the final stretch of the season, when bullpen usage patterns, matchup management, and travel schedules can amplify the need for specific pitch-type profiles and different pitching styles.

Nate Lavender’s presence is notable in the same way Pache’s is on offense. Lavender is one of the two players specifically called out as needing to be selected to the 40-man roster. Even when a player is already prepared to contribute at the major-league level, the administrative step of adding him to the 40-man pool is part of the roster math. The reporting implies the Mets believe Lavender is worth that roster investment now, not just later.

Because this is being framed as post-deadline filling, the broader context is that the Mets have created the opportunity to evaluate more internal options while also keeping the roster functional. Clubs that trade away pieces before the deadline often do so to reshape their talent pipeline, and late-season selections can serve two purposes at once: covering day-to-day roster needs while also putting additional players on a track to prove they can hold their role.

One caveat is that the report describes the expected selection list, but it does not, in the portion available here, provide further details about timing, corresponding option decisions, or the exact number of active-roster openings being addressed in each day. As always with roster reporting, the practical test will be what the Mets officially announce when the transactions are processed.

For Mets fans, the next thing to watch is how the selected pitchers and Pache are used once they are on the major-league roster. The immediate question is whether New York’s late additions deliver usable innings and reliable fielding coverage, and whether the Mets’ September plans start to look more defined as these newcomers gain at-bats and bullpen exposure.