BY : MIKE RIFKIN
Two of the biggest disappointments in Baseball are the New York Mets and the San Diego Padres. Both teams currently sit outside of the playoffs (SD :4.5, NYM 12) and both are in the top 10 in payroll for the season.
Steve Cohen appeared on “THE SHOW” Podcast with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman last week, and said that Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto are “getting along much better.” Meaning their relationship last season wasn’t as good as people want to perceive. Now, I will take Cohen at his word about them getting along, but this got me thinking, Soto is younger and signed long term and is in his prime. Lindor, will be 33 in November and is signed through 2031. Lindor is still an elite player at shortstop, but because of injury hasn’t had the best season.
I like to consider myself an optimist and I want to believe the Mets will turn the season around, but I am more likely to win the lottery. I blame David Stearns for a lot of the Mets issues, and according to Cohen he’s not going anywhere. Stearns has already gutted the roster and fired the manager, why not go all the way David and trade Lindor too?
Now this is New York David, so either you go big or you go home. And when I say big, it means big. Now both the Mets and Padres are in win now mode, despite the fact the Mets can’t even win when they score 12 runs. So, here’s the blockbuster idea (keep in mind I am not a salary guru) the Mets receive Fernando Tatis Jr. and Mason Miller from the Padres in exchange for Lindor, Freddy Peralta, Luke Weaver, Mark Vientos and Ronny Mauricio. If the Mets have to take on another contract like Jake Cronenworth, or Xander Bogaerts to make it happen so be it.
The Padres could kick Xander Bogaerts over to second with Lindor in the picture, Weaver, who has been fantastic for the Mets could slot into the Padres bullpen, which has a plethora of big arms coming out of it, Vientos and Mauricio are both young and change of scenery guys but are limited on where they can play, and Peralta, who will be a free agent after the season gives the Padres a top of the rotation arm, despite what’s he shown with the Mets.
The Mets would be getting younger with Tatis, who is 27 and signed through 2035. Remember Tatis came up as a shortstop, so maybe they kick him over and do the Mets consider making Juan Soto the DH?Miller is still arbitration eligible, but with how dominant he has been Stearns should sign him, and having Miller and Devin Williams at the backend of the bullpen would be a nice fit for the Mets. Now this move could be considered in the winter as well, but we don’t know how long the CBA talks are going to take. But if the Mets pulled this trigger at the deadline what it could do is make a very passionate and hungry fanbase happy about the future. In the short term this is basically a punt, but long term this could be an exciting deal for the Mets. It would also be the biggest blockbuster since Blockbuster went out of business. Now I want to make this clear I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF MOVING LINDOR, but if something like this proposal comes along the Mets have to listen.
The Sports Insanity Network 