New York Mets: Three possible Amed Rosario trade destinations

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 30: Amed Rosario #1 of the New York Mets in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 30, 2020 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Mets 5-2. 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 Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Where could the New York Mets possibly trade Amed Rosario this offseason?

The New York Mets have a very obvious problem on their hands: what are they going to do at shortstop moving forward? It’s an excellent issue for them to have because they have so much talent at the position, but it is a problem, nonetheless.

Entering the 2020 season Amed Rosario, the team’s starting shortstop, was coming off his breakout year and expectations were high for him. The organization as well as the fanbase were excited and relieved that Rosario’s defense was improving and, more importantly, that he seemed to have found it at the plate.

However, COVID-19 would present the Mets with a serious complication at the shortstop position. Rosters were expanded and teams had the ability to add more players. Even so, the Mets made a surprise move by adding shortstop Andrés Giménez.

Giménez, who was 21 years old at the time, had played at no higher level than AA and whose ETA at the major league team was 2021. His base running ability, speed, and defense were all there, but the general consensus was that his hitting needed work.

The Mets eased the youngster into his rookie campaign, using him almost exclusively as a pinch runner and defensive replacement early on. He immediately exhibited those strengths, running very well and making highlight-reel defensive plays almost consistently.

However, Giménez was quick to take advantage of the opportunity to impress on the grandest stage of all and did just that without looking back. His hitting was so good that it became almost blasphemous for him to be left out of the lineup.

Rosario, who is speedy but hasn’t been a great baserunner so far, and isn’t known for having a good glove, also wasn’t exactly effective or consistent at the plate.

By the end of the season, many were calling for Giménez to become the team’s number one shortstop. Even manager Luis Rojas, who had said that Rosario was still the team’s first option at short, quickly changed his mind, saying Giménez would also see consistent playing time there.

Giménez was so good in his rookie season that he will almost certainly be part of the major league team moving forward. As if this wasn’t a problem enough already for Rosario, another player will pose another challenge in the coming years.

The team’s current number two prospect is a shortstop by the name of Ronny Mauricio. Mauricio, who is 19 years old, is expected to arrive in 2022.

The Mets will have a lot happening with just Giménez and Mauricio, but Giménez’s versatility (he can also play at second and third base very well) allows an issue to be avoided and is just another factor that makes him more valuable than Rosario.

Adding Rosario to that mix of players complicates matters further, and it might be in the best interest of the team to move him, especially while he still has some value.

I recently wrote about potential landing spots for Brandon Nimmo should the Mets decide to move him.

I’ll now dive into prospective destinations for Rosario next season.

Los Angeles Angels

The Los Angeles Angels are coming off yet another disappointing season and while pitching is by far their most glaring issue, they now have a problem at shortstop, as well. Andrelton Simmons, who has been their shortstop since 2017, is now an unrestricted free agent and it doesn’t look like a reunion with the Angels is in sight.

There’s a significant chance the Angels find their shortstop of the future in free agency, but the Mets could be a great trade partner if they are interested in Rosario.

Who could the Mets look at in return?

Angels starting pitcher Dylan Bundy was apparently available at the trade deadline this season and is signed for one more year, so the Angels might still be willing to part with him at the right price. Bundy is coming off a solid season and would add much needed depth to the Mets’ rotation in 2021.

Reliever Noé Ramirez had a good 2019 season and was even better in 2020. He will be 31 in December and is under team control for three more years, so he could end up helping the bullpen for a few years to come.

27-year-old reliever Keynan Middleton had a rough 2020 season but boasts an impressive 3.48 ERA in a career that has spanned four years. He’s also under team control for three more years and is an even better bullpen option than Ramirez.

If the Mets choose to go the prospect route, LHP Hector Yan is someone they might look at. Yan is a borderline top-10 prospect in Los Angeles’ farm system, is a top-4 pitching prospect for them, and is their second-best LHP prospect.

His ETA is 2022 and he’s yet to play anything more than 26 games in single A ball, but he did well enough in the minors in 2019 to earn a spot on the Angels’ 40-man roster in 2020. In 2019 he boasted an ERA of 3.39 and struck out a whopping 148 batters, good for second in the Midwest League.

Oakland Athletics

The Angels aren’t the only AL West team with a problem at shortstop. The Oakland Athletics’ shortstop of the past six seasons, Marcus Semien, is also now an unrestricted free agent. Oakland is expected to make bringing him back somewhat of a priority, at least more so than Los Angeles with Simmons.

However, if the A’s want to find a cheaper option at short in order to allocate more money elsewhere, Rosario is worth a look. Oakland should be an attractive trade partner to the Mets, as well.

Starting pitcher Frankie Montas wasn’t great in 2020 but was quite effective in his two seasons before that. He, too, would add depth to New York’s rotation and can also come out of the bullpen as a middle innings reliever. Montas will be 28 when the 2021 season begins, is set to make $2 million, and is under team control through 2023.

Relievers Burch Smith and Lou Trivino are worth looking at, as well. Smith, who is 30 years old and under team control for three more years, hasn’t had the smoothest of careers but was excellent after being traded to the San Francisco Giants in 2019 and then again with the A’s in 2020.

Trivino is an even better option. He’s younger (29 years old), is under team control longer (four more years), and has been a better pitcher since making his debut.

Reliever J.B. Wendelken might be the best option for the Mets. He’ll be 28 years old when the season begins, is under team control through the next four seasons, and has been the most consistent of the lot. Wendelken boasted a 1.80 ERA in 21 games in 2020.

There are also a few prospects the Mets could show interest in.

Starting pitcher Grant Holmes is a top-15 prospect in Oakland’s farm system and one of their top-5 pitching prospects. He’ll be 25 years old in March and while he does need to work on his command, he improved significantly in 2019. With an ETA of 2020, it shouldn’t be long until Holmes is ready for the majors, especially if he continues to progress.

Starting pitcher James Kaprielian was deemed to be disappointing early on. He failed to make an impact after the New York Yankees took him in the first round of the 2014 draft.

However, he’s worked at perfecting his craft and has become a borderline top-10 prospect in Oakland’s farm system. Kaprielians’ ETA is 2020, and he was able to feature in two games for Oakland this past season. He’ll be 27 in March and could help the Mets in terms of depth.

Last but not least is RHP Daulton Jefferies, who is also expected to be a starting pitcher. Jefferies is 25 years old and has already made his MLB debut, pitching in one game in 2020. He’s Oakland’s second-best pitching prospect and the organization’s best RHP prospect. The command on his fastball is excellent and he also features a plus changeup.

If the Mets are hoping to acquire young pitchers with high ceilings who can make an impact on the team in the very near future, Oakland is one of the ways to go.

San Francisco Giants

Unlike the Angels and A’s, the San Francisco Giants still do have their franchise shortstop, but not for much longer. Two-time World Series champion Brandon Crawford, who will be 34 years old in January, will be an unrestricted free agent after the 2021 season.

The Giants could be very interested in Rosario for several reasons. He’s under team control through 2023 and can feature him however they like while still benefiting from Crawford next year.

San Francisco shocked the league by remaining in playoff contention until the last week of the regular season, and they have the tools to be just as good next year. Adding Rosario will be beneficial to them and they can benefit the Mets, as well.

Three Giants relievers the Mets could be interested in are Jarlin Garcia, Reyes Moronta, and Wandy Peralta.

Garcia was excellent for the Miami Marlins in 2019 and even better for San Francisco in 2020, boasting a 0.49 ERA and 0.982 WHIP in 19 games. Garcia will be 28 years old in January, is set to make $1.1 million next year, and is under team control for three more seasons.

Moronta boasts a very impressive 2.66 career ERA in three years, will also be 28 in January, and is also under team control for three more seasons.

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Peralta, who is 29 years old, hasn’t had as good or as consistent of a career as Garcia or Moronta, but he’s been very effective since going to San Francisco in 2019, boasting a 3.27 ERA and 1.152 WHIP in 33 games. His contract situation is identical to that of Garcia: he’ll be making $1.1 million next year and is under team control through 2023.

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Where could the New York Mets possibly trade Amed Rosario this offseason?

Los Angeles Angels

Oakland Athletics

San Francisco Giants

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