Mets post lopsided loss to Nationals

Jackson's first Mets home run WASHINGTON -- It was a case of unfortunate timing that the Mets' 25-4 loss to the Nationals on Tuesday, the most lopsided defeat in franchise history, came mere hours after assistant general manager John Ricco discussed the team's intention to compete for a playoff berth in 2019. Although a loss as bad as this portends little in terms of the team's future ability to thrive, it shows how far the Mets must come if they want to make such competition a reality.

Keeping their roster mostly intact at the non-waiver Trade Deadline was the first part, the easy part. The Mets' charge this offseason -- assuming they indeed decide to eschew a rebuild in favor of a…