Mets Rumors: Brodie Van Wagenen unlikely to trade top prospects

The latest offseason New York Mets rumors suggest the team would be hesitant to trade away prospects this winter. With this in mind, how can they improve the roster?

This winter is going to be different for the New York Mets. Often, this is good news. However, the latest Mets rumors don’t necessarily inspire much confidence in improving the roster this winter.

The tight-budgeted Mets are unlikely to trade any top prospects this winter. According to Tim Healey of Newsday, Brodie Van Wagenen has suggested the team would be hesitant to have a repeat of last offseason when he dipped into the farm system in the now infamous trade for Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz.

Although this could be in part posturing on Van Wagenen’s side, it’s hard to believe he would further deplete an already sinking farm system. The organization does have talent in the minor leagues, but very few of those upper-tier names are near a major league promotion.

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Mets rumors this offseason have been uninspiring. Reading into everything BVW has said, it doesn’t sound like the team has any intention of going over the luxury tax. This puts them in a place where they could spend up to around $20 million more through free agency or trades.

Considering they have few, if any, players making good money that could be traded, it’s likely we see softer additions to the roster.

I’ve been thinking a lot about what the Mets could do with this $20 million which I don’t even expect them to go right up against. They should go over, if only for a year, but all of the Mets rumors seem to hint that the organization will look for the cheapest options possible.

On the center field front, Matt Szczur is a name the team has shown interest in. He’s about as random of an outfielder in baseball. Dellin Betances is someone they have been linked to and I’m not going to be surprised if he ends up as the biggest free agent signing of the winter.

An unwillingness to trade top prospects is always both a good and bad thing for any baseball team. It’s quite obvious why. You never want to move top young talent without getting a good return.

On the other hand, it’s also silly to hold onto minor leaguers who haven’t done a thing when you have a chance to acquire someone who can contribute immediately.

As far as Mets rumors about the starting rotation go, it looks as if the team may not do a thing to improve it. Zack Wheeler choice free agency over the qualifying offer, leaving them with plenty of directions to go. Free agency would be the easiest direction. Van Wagenen has already made it clear both Robert Gsellman and Seth Lugo are options. Their cheaper contracts should make them serious contenders. The team can then go the more cost-effective route and add a reliever.

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In year one of Van Wagenen, the Mets roster changed in big ways. Offseason number two looks like it could be a lot quieter with only a minimal number of trades and free agent signings.