Mets trade deadline rumors they could revisit this offseason

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NEW YORK, NY – MAY 20: Brodie Van Wagenen, General Manager of the New York Mets, talks to the media during his press conference showing support for manager Mickey Callaway this afternoon before an MLB baseball game against the Washington Nationals on May 20, 2019 at Citi Field in the Queens borough of New York City. Mets won 5-3. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images) /

The New York Mets were active participants at the Trade Deadline, but there were potential trades left on the table that could be revisited in the offseason.

The New York Mets ended up having a more active trade deadline than many fans had expected them to after General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen expressed a cautious approach leading up to this year’s deadline. As we all would realize that was just typical General Manager speak, and Van Wagenen could not sit still and let the deadline pass without making a few moves.

Coming down to the wire the Mets ended up acquiring a controllable reliever with a high upside arm in Miguel Castro from the Baltimore Orioles, as well as a pair of established veterans from the Texas Rangers in infielder Todd Frazier and catcher Robinson Chirinos. In exchange, the Mets surrendered their 2019 Minor League Pitcher of the Year in Kevin Smith to the Orioles and two players to be named later to the Rangers.

While the Mets didn’t make a splashy move at the deadline, they did acquire a few under the radar pieces that could help them contend over the final month of the regular season and make a final push for a playoff spot. That doesn’t go without saying that there were a few other names in potential deals floated around leading up to the deadline, that the Mets very well may revisit this upcoming offseason.

Depending on how the final month of the regular season shakes out there are going to be a few question marks on the Major League roster after the season. I wanted to dive into a few of the names that were connected to Trade Deadline deals with the Mets, as well as the probability that the Mets make a deal this upcoming winter surrounding those players.

BOSTON, MA – APRIL 28: Christian Vasquez #7 of the Boston Red Sox looks on before the game against the Atlanta Braves at Fenway Park on April 28, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

Boston Red Sox Catcher Christian Vazquez

Over the final 48 hours leading up to the Trade Deadline, there was noise around the league that the Mets were interested in acquiring Boston Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez. Many Mets fans are well aware of who Christian Vazquez is after the consistent damage he inflicted on the Mets during their four-game series earlier this season.

With the catching position being one of the glaring holes staring at the Mets this upcoming offseason, the Mets may choose to revisit a trade this offseason with the Red Sox. Wilson Ramos has had a sluggish season, to say the least, and unless Robinson Chirinos finds lightning in a bottle over the final month of the season, the Mets will be looking to upgrade that position.

The 30-year old Vazquez is a career .256 hitter but is more lauded for his defensive prowess behind the plate, an area the Mets have struggled with this season. The Puerto Rican born catcher is under contract through the 2021 season at $6.25 million. His contract also includes a 2022 club option for $7 million with a $250,000 buyout.

The Red Sox asking price surrounding Vazquez was reportedly very high, and as these reports began to surface it seemed the Mets pulled themselves out of the running for the catcher, as MLB Insider Ken Rosenthal would state the Mets interest in Vazquez was “overblown.”

What can’t be overblown is the potential hole behind the plate that the Mets will have next season. It is yet to be seen if the Mets will break the bank for soon to be free agent catcher J.T. Realmuto, but if a deal does not come to fruition I could see one of the first back up options being the Mets giving the Red Sox a call on Vazquez.

It would be interesting to see if the Red Sox asking price would continue to be high on Vazquez this offseason, as they are seemingly going through the beginning of a rebuilding process. The Red Sox are pitching starved and you wonder if a minor league pitcher plus catcher Ali Sanchez who resembles a younger but unfinished version of Vasquez would get a deal done.

Probability of a trade: 60%

MIAMI, FLORIDA – AUGUST 19: Edwin Diaz #39 of the New York Mets delivers a pitch during the game against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on August 19, 2020 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

New York Mets Closer Edwin Diaz

Let’s face it Edwin Diaz has not resembled a fraction of the closer that the Mets thought they were receiving from the infamous Seattle Mariners trade back in 2018. While many Mets fans currently are unable to see any sort of upside with Diaz remaining with the team, other teams around the league are still very intrigued by the potential Diaz possesses.

There were reports on the afternoon of the Trade Deadline that the Mets were receiving calls on the 26-year old reliever but no trade would ultimately come to fruition. If the Mets were to deal Diaz during the Trade Deadline you would expect the Mets to be selling low on a pitcher that they mortgaged their future for. That future was one of the top prospects in all of baseball in Jarred Kelenic and right-handed pitcher Justin Dunn.

The Mets would not receive even close to the type of return they gave up for Diaz in the first place if they ended up making a deal on deadline day. However Diaz’s numbers, besides his inability to close a game, seem to have bounced back this season. Diaz’s average fastball velocity this season is a career-best at 98.3 MPH, and his stuff overall has appeared more electric than it did last season with a 47% strikeout rate.

This is where things could potentially get interesting. Any team that would want to acquire Diaz would still have two years of control and if Diaz can have a final strong month of the season, he could be a prime candidate to be moved. If the Mets don’t feel that the return is solid enough for Diaz, they could easily pair another young controllable player like Amed Rosario or Brandon Nimmo to increase the amount of return they receive. Or they could simply hold on to Diaz for another season and give it one more go.

With the Mets acquiring another young controllable arm in Miguel Castro, the Mets may have options this offseason, especially if Castro thrives in the high-leverage situations he is put in over the final month of the season. However with as one-sided, as this trade has looked for the Mets I simply don’t see them pulling the trigger unless they are overwhelmed by an offer this offseason.

Probability of a trade: 35%

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – AUGUST 29: Lance Lynn #42 of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the top of the first inning at Globe Life Field on August 29, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. All players are wearing #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. The day honoring Jackie Robinson, traditionally held on April 15, was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.” (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Texas Rangers Starting Pitcher Lance Lynn

One other name that the Mets had been connected to leading up the deadline was Texas Rangers starting pitcher Lance Lynn. While the Mets made two other trades with the Rangers at the deadline, they were unable to get a deal done for Lynn as the Rangers did have a high asking price on the 33-year old starting pitcher.

Besides Mike Clevinger, Lynn was considered the best starting pitcher available on the trade market, and he had attracted the interest of numerous teams around the league including the Mets. Lynn had pitched to a 1.93 ERA over 51.1 innings pitched leading up to the deadline and with him being under contract in 2021 for a very reasonable $8 million there is a reason the asking price was high.

While we don’t truly know what the Rangers were asking for in return, you could imagine it had to be something somewhat close to the return that the Cleveland Indians received for Clevinger. With the Rangers going nowhere this season and with many teams in the bidding it was very shocking that Lynn stayed put at the deadline.

Going into 2021 the Mets will have Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, and David Peterson firmly entrenched in rotation spots. The Mets will have two holes they will need to fill in the starting rotation and with their familiarity with the Rangers at the deadline, you wonder if they will revisit a trade for Lynn this upcoming offseason.

You would imagine Lynn’s asking price won’t be nearly as high as it was at the deadline as he will be pitching on the final year of his contract. Lynn would provide the Mets a dependable arm in the middle of the rotation which would be something they have sorely lacked behind Jacob deGrom in 2020. Since 2012 Lynn has made at least 29 starts every season and his career 2.89 ERA at Citi Field doesn’t hurt either.

With the Rangers in full rebuild mode, they would certainly be looking for young talent in return. The asking price is certainly questionable compared to this year’s Trade Deadline depending on the amount of interest Lynn attracts. It’s fair to wonder if a prospect such as third baseman Mark Vientos, who is behind J.D. Davis and Brett Baty in the pecking order and the Rangers taking on Steven Matz as a reclamation project under team control through 2022 would work to get a deal done.

Probability of a trade: 30%

Next. Mets trades with the Rangers can turn out well for the Amazins

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The New York Mets were active participants at the Trade Deadline, but there were potential trades left on the table that could be revisited in the offseason.

Boston Red Sox Catcher Christian Vazquez

New York Mets Closer Edwin Diaz

Probability of a trade: 35%

Texas Rangers Starting Pitcher Lance Lynn

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