Mets: Reacting to a trade idea with the Athletics involving Dominic Smith

An Oakland Athletics blog shared their idea on a “wild” trade to make with the New York Mets involving Dominic Smith.

The MLB Hot Stove is in preheat mode which means everyone from every city is thinking up different trade ideas for the team they follow. One trade involving the New York Mets comes from an Oakland Athletics blog, Athletics Nation.

The author of the article and the deal, Alex Hall, runs through in great detail why the Mets and Athletics are reasonable trade partners. Using numbers on the field, on the payroll, and how each member would fit with their new club, the end trade includes three players going to New York and one moving to Oakland.

After the final analysis, Hall came up with an intriguing trade to make headlined by Dominic Smith going to the Athletics.

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Smith’s value has never been higher. He’s coming off a fantastic year with the Mets. The question that remains is how he fits in with the 2021 lineup. Will Smith play first base as we watch Pete Alonso move to DH full-time? Will he continue to get starts in left field? It’s not a perfect fit, but one I think the Amazins will make work.

However, they can still explore trade ideas like this one with the Athletics. In return for Smith, they would receive outfielders Khris Davis and Mark Canha along with a prospect. Thinking reasonably, Hall is willing to give up someone like A.J. Puk.

The deal nets the Mets two outfielders, but no actual true center fielder. Canha is better off in a corner position and Davis is at the stage of his career where the DH role is best. If Smith is moving to the Athletics, there’s an obvious fit for Davis.

In this deal, the Athletics manage to dump Davis’ $16.75 million contract for 2021 on Steve Cohen and also add a young bat in Smith. It does cost them a good prospect which would be the biggest deterrent for me from their perspective. Whether it’s Puk or anyone else suggested, it’s never easy giving up on someone you believed would become a future part of your franchise.

An offseason trade between the Mets and Athletics could work especially with the return of Sandy Alderson to New York. He has connections in both front offices. A pocket dial could even get the conversation started.

Is this a trade the Mets should do?

From a Mets viewpoint, I would have to pass on this hypothetical idea. It intrigues me for sure. The deal adds two big league bats to the New York roster while also helping to give their farm system a boost. At the cost of one player—even if he was the team’s MVP in position player in 2020—it’s a whole lot to get back.

Ultimately, I would have to pass on this trade proposal for one main reason: it doesn’t make the Mets better for long enough.

Sure, Canha is okay and Davis has hit well in the past. The intrigue of landing a good prospect also could help the Mets in the not too distant future.

The benefits of this deal just feel too short-term. Why give up years of Smith for fewer of two veterans over 30 and a prospect you’re rolling the dice with? If I’m trading Smith this offseason, it’s for a prospect I know will be good or a big leaguer of equal value; not a pair that are imperfect fits.

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I appreciate the thought put into this trade idea. I cannot, however, in good conscience storm the castle of Citi Field and demand the Mets do everything in their power to make this deal happen.