The New York Mets have had one of the most interesting seasons of any team in baseball. Coming in with big expectations from big offseason acquisition Francisco Lindor, the Mets were met by some disappointing results. They started off with phenomenal pitching and lackluster offense. Jacob deGrom led the staff through a spectacular April and May. Marcus Stroman and Taijuan Walker followed suit on their own spectacular levels. Then all hell broke loose.
The injuries for starters. The team started dropping like flies through the month of May with a total of almost 20 players on the IL. Even the replacements were dropping. Still someway somehow the Mets held onto first place until mid-June when players were mostly healthy. They have continued that hold in July when the injuries have started again, hitting their most sacred players in deGrom and Lindor. They join David Peterson, Joey Lucchesi, and many relievers to drop down this season. With this the case, the Mets have their work cut out for them this trade deadline.
Make sure to check out all of our other Trade Deadline Previews.
Current Position
Record: 48-42
Rank: First place
Status: Buyers
The Mets are clear buyers. They sit in first place despite many struggles. The rest of the relevant division is clustered within six games of them and all have potential playoff opportunities. The Atlanta Braves are four games out have been decimated by injury also. They have started buying with the acquisition of Joc Pederson from the Chicago Cubs. One can expect the Philadelphia Phillies, who are just two games out, and the Washington Nationals, who are six games out, to join the Braves in their buying. The Mets need to be aggressive in order to maintain their lead in the division and fill the appropriate holes.
Trade Candidates
Kris Bryant, UTL, Chicago (NL)
The Cubs deciding to sell makes this market one of the most juiced up trade markets in recent memory. They have many star players which include the former MVP candidate. The Las Vegas native was selected to his fourth All-Star game and has been a key cog for the Cubs offense this season. Bryant has shown his versatility this season appearing in almost every position other than pitcher or catcher. The Cubs star is set to enter free agency this offseason and is represented by Scott Boras. The cost will likely be a top-100 piece along with a couple of top-150 pieces to compliment that. Should the Mets trade for Bryant, he would essentially keep the same role he has with the Cubs; play wherever there is a need on any given day. That is the beauty of Bryant.
Jose Berrios, SP, Minnesota
Do the Mets need pitching? No! Well on paper, yeah, they are stacked but other than the paper, they have been decimated by injury and look to build and even major league level rotation again. Berrios is the perfect guy given the uncertainty beyond this season of Stroman and Noah Syndergaard. He is under control for this year and next. Berrios has been a constant innings eater for the Twins over the years and has been very solid as a No. 2 starter. For the Mets, he would be their No. 4 starter due to their elite pitching, once healthy and maybe even No. 5. Berrios has struggled at times this year but overall has been very effective. With this in mind, the price tag is likely two top-50 prospects and a depth piece from the minors. It won’t be cheap.
Jon Gray, SP, Colorado
Another starter is certainly a need for the Mets more than a hitter. With the rotation and bullpen getting injured and taxed, no amount of starters are too many. Gray has posted a 3.68 ERA through 93 innings with 87 strikeouts. He would help add depth to the injury-plagued Mets rotation and at a cheap price. Gray should cost the Mets no more than a top-20 prospect.
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