New York Mets can learn from the recent Brad Hand trade

One way the New York Mets can win the trade deadline is to bundle their trade pieces like the San Diego Padres did in the Brad Hand deal.

The trade deadline season has arrived. As the New York Mets sit on their hands, the rest of baseball is beginning to make deals.

The first heavy foot to drop sent Manny Machado from the Baltimore Orioles to the Los Angeles Dodgers. A day later, the San Diego Padres traded Brad Hand to the Cleveland Indians.

It’s this deal between the Padres and Indians the Mets can look at when deciding on what they will do at the trade deadline. That’s because the Padres managed to get one of the best prospects in baseball in the deal: catcher Francisco Mejia.

Along with Hand, the Padres sent 27-year-old rookie Adam Cimber to Cleveland. He has pitched marvelously for San Diego this season. In one swoop, the Indians have added two pitchers to their lackluster bullpen.

What does this have to do with the Amazins?

Well, they have Jeurys Familia to trade. Though not as “good” as Hand or controllable, he’s a rental I think the Mets can sell high if done right.

More from Rising Apple

Let’s say they package Familia with another desirable piece. Whether that’s Asdrubal Cabrera or Zack Wheeler is up to your imagination. Trading these guys in a single deal won’t return a great prospect. Pairing them together could get someone on the level of Mejia.

I don’t think Familia alone is worth a top 100 prospect. I could say the same about Cabrera and Wheeler. However, if you pair Familia and Wheeler together and ship them to a team in need of pitching help, I can imagine someone biting with a top 50 prospect easily.

Would Mets fans accept this, though? Usually in these types of trades more minor leaguers are included. It’s rare to see a single prospect swap organizations and multiple MLB players go the opposite direction.

No specific team jumps out to me as a great fit for this other than the Philadelphia Phillies. They are in the market for a starting pitcher and some relief help. Would the Mets make a deal like this with a division rival? I have my doubts.

The Chicago Cubs are a possibility. Whenever a trade involving pitchers is brought up, I can’t ignore the Colorado Rockies. They went into the All-Star Break hot and have a chance at the division or wild card.

Whatever they do with any of these trade candidates, it’s imperative they get the best players back. Quantity does not beat quality in these types of deals.

Next: First half grades for the Mets coaching staff

Want your voice heard? Join the Rising Apple team!

Write for us!

What do you think the Mets could get in a deal like this?

Home/New York Mets News