New York Mets: Three potential Dominic Smith trade destinations

Cleveland Indians

The Mets are most certainly going to look for an upgrade to their rotation through free agency as well as through the trade market. While rumors have picked up recently regarding the possibility of Francisco Lindor being moved to Flushing, including Dom in a bigger package along with prospects would help in the Indians adding one of their arms into the mix.

While the package would center around Lindor, the Mets should push to have Zach Plesac added into the deal as well. For the Indians, they’d probably be more inclined to move Carlos Carrasco who is set to make $11M in 2021 and is 33 years old. However, with a package of prospects, and two major league established players such as Amed Rosario and Smith, the Mets could be in a position to bolster their rotation and maintaining their roster’s youth.

Plesac, who will turn 26 next January, was the center of some controversy this season when he and Mike Clevinger decided to go out partying, resulting in positive COVID tests and causing a rift within the clubhouse.

Clevinger was shipped to San Diego and rumors of Plesac being traded swirled as well. In eight starts in 2020, Plesac pitched to the tune of a 2.28 ERA, with a WHIP under 1.00 and 57 strikeouts over 55 innings pitched. It’s an eight-game sample, but those eight starts were a drastic improvement from Plesac’s rookie year in 2019 which ERA of 3.81 and a FIP of nearly 5.00.

The Mets could try to pry away Triston McKenzie, but given what we saw in 2020, it might be a steeper price to try to include him in a package with Lindor. Plesac seems like a more realistic option as a trade chip while also providing upside potential.

If the Mets wanted to include Smith in a trade to Cleveland, it would give them an opportunity to add to their rotation of 2021 as almost an aside to what would otherwise be a mega-deal in landing Lindor.

With Carlos Santana being a free agent, the Indians would be able to have an established first baseman in their lineup that is under team control and cost efficient. Not being known to retain their stars, Cleveland could look to rebuild their team and make Smith part of their core moving forward.