Going For It : Mets Trade Deadline Needs

Posted byMichael RifkinPosted inMLB, Rifkin’s Rift TideTags:, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

By Mike Rifkin

Under Steve Cohen’s ownership, the Mets goal has been to win the World Series, the team’s first since 1986. Cohen has shown multiple times through his wallet that he’ll do whatever it takes to win the World Series. In free agency he has signed Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Starling Marte, and Juan Soto just to name a few. The trade deadline has been a different monster for the Mets though, as the past few deadlines they have tried to bandaid stuff together and it hasn’t worked. Whether it was the Darrin Ruf and Daniel Vogelbach experiment or adding Paul Blackburn, if the Mets want to be a serious contender this is the deadline to show that and it’s a cherry on top if they don’t have to obliterate the farm system. So what do the Mets need at the deadline? In my opinion the Mets need one or two starters, two relievers (one lefty) and a center fielder. So, what could they get? 

STARTERS

  1. Sandy Alcantara – Marlins : A year removed from Tommy John Surgery, Alcantra has not had a great season with a 4-8 record and an ERA of 7.01. The positive on Alcantara would be he has one year left with a club option for a second.The downside would be trading within the division and helping the Marlins through their rebuild. 
  1. Zac Gallen – Diamondbacks : This one will hinge on whether the Diamondbacks sit in the standings, as of this writing they are 10.5 games behind the Dodgers and 5.5 games in the wild card. Like Alcantra, Gallen has struggled this season with an 5.15 ERA, so he could be a buy low candidate and with him being a free agent after the season could work in the Mets favor. 
  1. Mitch Keller – Pirates : Keller is 29 years old and under contract through 2029. With the Pirates always wanting to shed money, the Mets could be a good partner as they could take the entire salary. But because Keller is under contract, his price might be a little higher. 
  1. Kyle Freeland and German Marquez – Rockies : Ok, both of these guys have good stuff and have pitched well in the past, but not this season. Is it them declining or is it the fact that the Rockies stink. Freeland is 1-10 with an ERA of 5.44. He has one more year left plus a vesting option for 2027. Marquez is 3-10 with a 5.84 ERA, what is worrisome about Marquez is he has a higher ERA on the road as opposed to Coors Field. Marquez will be a free agent after the season. 
  1. Jacob DeGrom – Rangers : Yeah, this is a dream scenario, but let me have this. After another injury plagued season, the leader of the Nation of DeGromination has returned with a vengeance, He is 9-2 with a 2.29 ERA and should be in the running for CY Young. Now, he does have two years plus a 2028 club option left on his contract, so it’ll be interesting to see if Texas wants to move him. 

RELIEVERS : I do think the Mets bullpen will get a boost in the playoffs, with the addition of Clay Holmes, who has been in the rotation all season, but along with him and the return of Brooks Raley, the Mets still need two arms (one lefty) in the pen. 

  1. Pete Fairbanks – Rays : The Rays are always tinkering with their team, so if Fairbanks is available, he’d give Carlos Mendoza a solid option on days Edwin Diaz cannot pitch. Fairbanks has just a seven million dollar club option for 2026. 
  1. Kyle Finnegian – Nats : The Nationals just fired GM Mike Rizzo and Manager Dave Martinez and are in the midst of a rebuild. Finnegan has 18 saves to go along with a 2.49 ERA. Finnegian is a free agent after the season. 
  1. Gregory Soto – Orioles – Soto has 39 strikeouts in 32.1 innings pitched. Soto, who is in the last year of his deal has a 3.90 ERA.

CENTER FIELD : 

  1. Luis Robert : White Sox : Robert, has been involved in trade talks for the last year. Last season was a rough season for him with 14 homers and a slash line of .224/.278/.379. This year has been tougher with eight homers so far and a slash line of .187/.272/.315. Robert also has 22 steals in 30 attempts.  Is this what Robert is or is this because the White Sox stink? Who knows, but adding a 27 year old, who has two 20 million dollar club options over the next two seasons might be worth a risk. 
  1. Cedric Mullins : Orioles : Mullins has been a big piece for the Orioles rise the last few years. He is a very good defender. This season he has a slash line of .211/.300/.410 with 13 homers and 41 RBI. Mullins would bring an element of speed with 11 stolen bases in 13 tries. Mullins is a free agent after the season. 

This is a big deadline for Steve Cohen and David Stearns, the Mets have put them in a position to buy. Even though Stearns likes to use upside and potential in deals, I believe this is a go for it year, they have certain untouchables in terms of prospects, but this is not a time to hug all the prospects. To use a poker term the Mets need to go all in.

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