Mets Boxing Day Celebration: Three contracts the team would like to exchange

Boxing Day comes the day after Christmas and it’s the perfect time to take a look at some of the contracts the New York Mets wish they could return.

The day after Christmas is known as Boxing Day. In places like Canada, people box up their least favorite gifts received the day before and return them to the store. If only it was so easy for the New York Mets to do the same.

The Mets have had a few bad contracts in recent years. The current roster has quite a few fans would like to see get dumped onto another organization.

Excluding the unrealistic possibility of the Mets finding a taker for Robinson Cano, I believe these three teams may have at least some interest in a deal with Brodie Van Wagenen for one of the bad contracts on the payroll.

Jed Lowrie – Toronto Blue Jays

Mets fans have about as much connection to Jed Lowrie as I do to my neighbor’s great-grandfather—whoever they are and whoever he is.

Lowrie missed almost all of 2019 and became a punchline because of his everlasting injury that seemed to evolve as the year went on. Moving him and his $10 million would be a godsend to the 2020 payroll.

Offseason trade rumors have linked the Mets to a few teams. Lowrie’s old team, the Oakland Athletics, is one of them. However, the Mets would probably need to eat more of the deal than they would be willing to. The Texas Rangers are another squad that has been mentioned. In these rumors, the Mets would need to pair Lowrie with Dominic Smith to make it happen.

Another team worth considering are the Toronto Blue Jays. Even though they could have Travis Shaw at first base in 2020, a package of Smith and Lowrie could make sense for the Blue Jays. The roster has plenty of room for some veteran players behind the young up-and-coming stars that make up their current core.

If lucky enough to pull off a miracle, maybe the Mets are even able to swipe Ken Giles away from Toronto. It may require them to include a lower level prospect or eat a larger portion of Lowrie’s deal. Either way, I think the Blue Jays are a team with available room to take on a bad deal.

Yoenis Cespedes – Texas Rangers

Mets fans don’t want to trade Yoenis Cespedes for a couple of reasons. His restructured contract makes it easier to hold onto him. The issue may be trusting him on defense.

Even if Cespedes can swat 52 home runs, there’s no telling how effective he can be with a glove on his hand.

A trade to the American League seems to make the most sense. The Texas Rangers, who have added some big-name pitchers this winter including Corey Kluber, may have space available. They failed to sign free agent target Anthony Rendon, leaving the offense a little lackluster for now.

Shin-Soo Choo is lined up to be the DH in Texas next year, but there are plenty of options for them to move a few pieces around. The team has a couple of young sluggers who have either yet to reach their potential or have faced some hard times in recent seasons. Clearly hoping to enter “win-now” mode in 2020 when they open up the new ballpark, a reinvigorated Cespedes could go a long way toward getting the fans excited.

Along with playing some DH, first base is a possibility for Cespedes. Before Pete Alonso rewrote MLB history, there was some thought Cespedes could play the position for a bit in 2019. He never did get the opportunity and he won’t as long as he stays with the Mets.

Texas should have the funds available to add Cespedes. Then again, so should just about any team now that he’s not guaranteed nearly as much.

Because many hitters have thrived for the Rangers over the years thanks in large part to Texas heat, the front office down in Arlington could believe a 52 home run campaign is a little more realistic for Cespedes if he wore one of their uniforms. The Mets probably wouldn’t get much in return for him, but they would free up a roster spot and some salary to perhaps add a different face to the 2020 team.