Mets: Understanding fans who don’t want to see Jose Bautista traded

Should the New York Mets trade Jose Bautista? There seems to be a small riff among fans.

Not all New York Mets fans are built the same. There are those out there who would prefer not to see their favorite team trade Jose Bautista.

I understand wanting the team to hold onto Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, and other Mets-lifers. It’s the attachment to Bautista I don’t comprehend.

Bautista has been great since joining the Amazins in May. When it became apparent that they needed to do something about their horrifying outfield situation, the Mets took a chance on Bautista. It has paid off in big ways.

It has been fun to watch Bautista. In a down year, he gives us a reason to pay attention to this team. In that regard, I get it.

Whether he’s hitting walk-off bombs or providing the team with some veteran leadership, he has been the addition this team needed. It’s a shame he hasn’t had a chance to win much with them.

Bautista does, however, have a chance to win with someone. I do believe he’s a guy the Mets should move. Some contender out there could benefit from having his bat on the bench and occasionally in the starting lineup. Even if they sell him low, I don’t think keeping him around for the last two months will help the Mets as much as the gamble on a prospect will.

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Do we buy into the idea that veteran players are mentors for the younger ones? To an extent, it works.

Then there are examples like the one we’ve heard all year long. Jose Reyes has allegedly remained with the team to help Amed Rosario.

To me, this is the job of the coaching staff. When a team needs to keep players around for this reason, the coaches aren’t doing their job right. I like Bautista on this roster and I can appreciate what they tried to do with bringing back Reyes. There does come a time to move on, though.

With the choice to move Bautista for a warm body that could have a future in this organization or keep him through the misery, I lean so far to the former you’d think I was wearing Michael Jackson’s anti-gravity shoes.

In return, New York won’t land a top 100 prospect for Bautista or even a guy that registers as having a bright future in the big leagues. But what if they get the next Jeff McNeil? Or better yet, what if they get the next Jose Bautista?

It’s better to have something than nothing at all. Bautista can only impart so much wisdom onto the younger Mets players.

Next: Prospect the Mets should target in trades

The rest is up for them to experience on their own.