Mets Monday Morning GM: Amed Rosario’s nearly absent trade value

Amed Rosario is one of the top candidates on the New York Mets to get traded this winter. However, with a nearly absent trade value, the team shouldn’t expect to get much at all in return for the young shortstop.

One of the key New York Mets players we could expect to get shopped this winter is shortstop Amed Rosario. Are we still calling him shortstop? He practically lost his starting gig in 2020 and will reportedly play a variety of positions in 2021.

However you want to define him, Rosario is one of the top candidates to wear a different team’s uniform in 2021.

Rosario’s departure from New York could go down in two ways. Either he is traded in a blockbuster deal for someone like Francisco Lindor or the Mets swap him in a lesser deal. Those lesser deals, however, may be harder to find because of how full free agency is with shortstops.

More from Rising Apple

• NY Mets Monday Morning GM: The middle is no place you want to be
• NY Mets News: Marcus Stroman sees “potential fit” with the Angels
• NY Mets were too “seek” and not enough “destroy” last winter
• NY Mets: 1 trade target to consider from each 100-loss team
• NY Mets: Top 12 free agents the team should look to sign this winter

Aside from trade candidates like Lindor, Carlos Correa, and Trevor Story, the free agent market began with an abundance of recognizable names that play the position. Didi Gregorius, Marcus Semien, and Andrelton Simmons are three of the most notable names. Each offers something a little different. All have an impressive resume as well.

To put it another way, Rosario doesn’t have much value right now. He’s coming off of a poor year at the plate and another typically below-average campaign with the glove.

There has been no actual indication that the Mets will trade Rosario. However, with plenty of speculation about their desire to target Lindor, we have to believe Rosario would be gone if a deal ever did get done.

This is the most obvious way Rosario leaves Flushing. It’s a shortstop for a shortstop trade plus some more talent thrown in to even things out. I’m not exactly sure what any trade for Lindor might look like. It would have to include Rosario just to fill the need of the Cleveland Indians.

Rosario doesn’t have much going for him at all right now. He’s one of the least-productive Mets and not as desirable as he used to be. Another year closer to free agency—albeit a few years still—we can’t keeping referencing his age either in favor or defense of him. A freshly turned 25, he’s not much younger than Lindor or Correa; a pair of shortstops that have accomplished a whole lot more.

It does feel as if Rosario’s time as the Mets shortstop is coming to a close. Andres Gimenez looked good in 2020. Prospect Ronny Mauricio should also have something to say about the position if his path continues going smoothly as planned.

For now, the Mets shouldn’t look to get too fancy with Rosario in any trade. If the deal helps them upgrade at the position, I don’t think too many will cry foul. Anything else comes with a greater risk.

Want your voice heard? Join the Rising Apple team!

Write for us!

This offseason isn’t about taking chances or rolling the dice. It’s about doing the best thing possible and ending October with a parade.