The New York Mets are gearing up for a busy trade deadline, with multiple sources reporting that they are open to discussions for most of their roster. The team, currently sitting at 41-57, is looking to make some strategic moves to improve their chances of success in the second half of the season. Here's a breakdown of the potential trade scenarios and the players involved.
Big-Name Infielders on Huge Contracts
The Mets are not looking to trade their core young players, including Juan Soto, Nolan McLean, Christian Scott, Carson Benge, and A.J. Ewing. However, they are willing to discuss trades for players on huge contracts, such as Francisco Lindor and Bo Bichette.
Lindor, signed for $32MM per season through 2031, has struggled this season with a .210/.291/.363 batting line. His age (33) and contract make him a less attractive trade candidate, and owner Steve Cohen has acknowledged that he is unlikely to move.
Bichette, signed for $42MM annually for 2027-28, is a more interesting case. He can opt out after this season or next, and the Mets could contemplate conditional cash considerations for future seasons if he doesn't opt out. Bichette has an underwhelming .253/.297/.372 batting line, but he has shown improvement since the beginning of June.
Shorter-Term Trade Chips
The Mets have several players who are likely to be moved, including Freddy Peralta, Clay Holmes, A.J. Minter, and Brooks Raley. These players are impending free agents, and the Mets are looking to capitalize on their value.
Peralta, who has had a rough season with a 4.66 ERA and a career-low strikeout rate, is a prime trade candidate. His $8MM salary is a bargain, and he is likely to decline a qualifying offer if the Mets hold him all season. The Mets would receive a compensatory pick after the fourth round if he signs elsewhere.
Holmes, who is recovering from a fibula fracture, is a more complicated case. He is unlikely to pitch before the deadline, but he is open to an extension instead of a trade. The Mets could take the extension talks right up to the deadline before deciding on a course of action.
Minter and Raley are solid rental lefty relievers, and the Mets will likely need to eat a portion of Minter's $11MM salary. Raley, playing on an affordable $4.75MM contract, is a clear fit for a contending bullpen and is a virtual lock to be moved.
Weaver is the best of New York's bullpen trade chips. The 32-year-old righty has been their top free agent signing from last winter, and the Mets are likely to cash him in at the deadline when trade prices for relievers are highest.
Controllable Trade Candidates
The Mets are also open to discussions for controllable players, such as catcher Francisco Alvarez. Alvarez, a well above-average hitter with legitimate plus power, has a .259/.325/.448 line on the season. However, he has questions defensively, as he is prone to passed balls and not great at controlling the running game.
The Mets control Alvarez for three seasons beyond this one, and it would be a surprise if they moved him. However, they are open to the possibility of another team blowing them away.
Underwater Contracts
The Mets are also willing to discuss players with unappealing contracts, such as Jorge Polanco, Sean Manaea, Luis Robert Jr., Kodai Senga, Devin Williams, and Marcus Semien. The Mets could find a taker for Williams if they paid some of his $51MM deal down, but that might not be worth it considering they are already going to need to replace a lot of the aforementioned relievers.
In summary, the New York Mets are gearing up for a busy trade deadline, with multiple sources reporting that they are open to discussions for most of their roster. The team is looking to make some strategic moves to improve their chances of success in the second half of the season, and the potential trade scenarios and players involved are worth watching closely.
