Mets: Best trade partners to find pitching in exchange for a bat

St. Louis Cardinals

Finally, we have the St. Louis Cardinals. The Mets and Cardinals just don’t make trades anymore. Could new ownership change this?

St. Louis allowed the sixth-fewest runs per game in 2020 at 3.95. When it was their turn to hit, they scored an average of 4.14 per game. This ranked as the seventh-lowest in MLB.

Missing from the Cardinals in 2020 was balance in their lineup. Paul Goldschmidt was his usual awesome self. However, they didn’t get much from anyone else on the roster. Matt Carpenter hit below the Mendoza Line. Tyler O’Neill did too and yet he led the team with 7 home runs.

The Cardinals have done a fine job at developing pitchers over the years. They may actually need another starter in 2021 depending on Adam Wainwright’s future. The Mets can, however, turn their gaze to the bullpen.

What the Cardinals relievers did in 2020 is enviable. They have multiple relievers with ERAs below 3.00. Several are lefties. If you’ve been paying attention to the Mets, you may have realized the club could use another one in 2021.

The issue, though, with making a trade with the Cardinals is the same as it is with other teams on this list. Starting pitching is hard to find; at least the good kind.

Sure, the Cardinals could trade a reliever to the Mets. At the cost of one of their starting position players, I am reluctant.

This doesn’t mean all trade ideas are off the table. More realistically, we might see these teams strike a deal involving some prospects. I don’t think any of the Mets surplus position players are worth any of the Cardinals’ relievers. I also don’t think any of the St. Louis starting pitchers are worth the bats the Mets have to spare.

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Finding a perfect trade partner is not easy. I do think we found a few teams out there that can help the Mets and vice versa even if they don’t help each other out.