New York Mets needed to get more in the Jeurys Familia trade

The first big New York Mets trade of the summer was a letdown for me. The team should have gotten more back for Jeurys Familia.

When the news finally broke of who the New York Mets were getting in the Jeurys Familia trade, I felt the way many did: underwhelmed.

A part of me knows the Mets wouldn’t land any big name prospects for Familia. Another part believes they should have gotten a little more than what they did.

The two players the Mets received, William Toffey and Bobby Wahl, are hardly notable names in the minor leagues. Toffey now ranks in the Mets’ top 30 while Wahl is a 26-year-old barely qualifying as an actual prospect. They did also receive $1 million of international bonus money which I’m not confident they can spend wisely.

Wahl should play for the Mets sooner than later. He’s pitching tremendously in Triple-A this season with an amazing WHIP and strikeout rate. We’ll have to see if the hard-throwing Wahl can post similar totals at the major league level.

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To get so little in return for Familia is disappointing. Because the Mets chose not to eat any of his remaining salary on the season, the Oakland Athletics only offered lesser minor leaguers in return for him. Had they been willing to contribute even a part of his salary, I think they would have come away with a better duo.

There are other ways that could have made this trade better. Outside of their control, I would have loved to see Jerry Blevins gets traded. Due to his struggles in 2018, he has very little trade value. In almost any other season of his career, Blevins would have been a hot trade candidate. Paired with Familia, we could have seen the two go to the Athletics in return for a real prospect or two.

Instead, we’re looking at two guys middle-of-the-road players.

Last year, the Athletics made a trade with the Washington Nationals which sent Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson to D.C. In return, the Athletics received their All-Star closer Blake Treinen, their number one prospect Jesus Luzardo, and their number nine prospect Sheldon Neuse. This is the kind of deal I would have loved to see this team make.

Examining their other trade candidates, I don’t see any amazing prospects joining the Mets in a separate deal. Asdrubal Cabrera will likely bring back an even weaker group of minor league talent. A Zack Wheeler trade is their only hope at rebuilding the farm. Even he won’t get them anything spectacular.

Maybe the problem with this year’s trade deadline is that there isn’t one team out there desperate enough to add a new closer. The Cleveland Indians already added Brad Hand so we can strike them from the conversation.

It looks like Familia find his place in the Oakland bullpen as a setup man instead of in his familiar role pitching in the ninth.

Next: 20 biggest disappointments from the Mets season

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Since he’s essentially taking a demotion, the Athletics probably didn’t feel the need to give up as much for him.

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