Do contending teams need to plan for an August surprise?

Access the Mets beat like never before

Don’t miss Mike Puma’s text messages from Queens and beyond — he’s giving Sports+ subscribers the inside buzz on the Mets.

Traditionally, post-trade deadline is when also-rans summon elite prospects to begin plotting for the future. But notably when it comes to pitching — especially for the rotation — do clubs vying for the postseason need to unleash fresh arms for the present?

Particularly in an age in which the pitching machine eats its young … and medium … and old?

This is an era when starters are asked for less bulk than ever, but are maxing out on every pitch. In its most basic form Goliaths of the past such as Tom Seaver and Bob Gibson could count on lineups that, power-wise particularly, fell precipitously after the fourth and fifth hitters and did not compel them to deliver each pitch with full force. Bud Harrelson and Don Kessinger don’t play any more. Thus, are 175 innings now what, say, 250 used to be as far as wear on the arm?