The addition of Mullins created a chain reaction. When the Mets activated Mullins for Friday’s game, they sent rookie infielder Luisangel Acuña to Triple-A Syracuse. And while Taylor started in center field on Friday, he is primed to lose playing time with Mullins in the mix.

Perched in first place with a mostly healthy roster and one of their most dynamic offensive cores in decades, the Mets entered late July sensing another fine runway for a deep postseason run. They then became one of the Trade Deadline’s more active teams,

When Tyrone Taylor was told by Carlos Mendoza that his playing time may change, the centerfielder said, "I was excited for the team."