Three Mets fans, three best offers in a Nolan Arenado trade

Michael Griffin trades a big league bat and a top 10 prospect

We begin this journey with a trade proposal from Rising Apple’s Michael Griffin. Clearly not someone eager to add Arenado to the Mets roster, his best offer gives Colorado a big league bat plus one really good prospect.

J.D. Davis almost feels like a “must” in this trade. If the Mets were to add him, he doesn’t really have a spot to play. New York could always have him back in left field, but that seems like a spot reserved for Brandon Nimmo or possibly Dominic Smith.

Without knowing exactly how Griffin would construct the roster around Arenado, this is just a little speculation on my part.

Then there’s the bigger meat of the trade where the Rockies get a young player back. Also turning in his Mets badge is either 2020 first-round draft pick Pete Crow-Armstrong or Isaiah Greene. Both outfielders, Griffin is hoping one of the top ten prospects in the system can push this deal through.

Personally, I’d be opposed to trading Crow-Armstrong just because of the Jarred Kelenic factor. The organization already dealt away one recent number one draft pick. Please, don’t do it again.

Greene, who is far less notable as the number ten prospect according to MLB.com, might be a little more palatable to fans. However, as another young outfield prospect on in a system quite barren at the position, it could still backfire.

If I was sitting in the GM’s office in Denver, I’m going to want a little more for my superstar third baseman. Even if this is landing me one of the best prospects from the Mets, I’m holding out for more.

James Richards has a three-player package for the Rockies

Second on our list of Mets trades for Arenado comes from James Richards. Going in a different direction than Griffin, Richards is willing to part with a little more talent in his best offer.

This is quite a haul for Colorado. They get a young first baseman on the rise, a speedy infielder with a great glove and a potentially good bat, and one of the franchise’s best pitching prospects.

Dominic Smith is certainly someone we could see the Mets deal away in any blockbuster trade this winter. Getting anything less than an All-Star player would be a travesty.

Trading Gimenez, in this case, is to open up the infield a little more for the Mets. One issue it doesn’t resolve is how to fit Davis and Brandon Nimmo into the lineup, but I’m sure Richards has a few ideas on how to do so. I think trading Davis makes a little more sense in a deal for Arenado, but it’s also not a requirement.

The Rockies also get Matthew Allan, a young prospect ranked fourth in the Mets system right now. I think the idea of getting home would definitely push this deal through. Richards has assembled an Arenado trade package that might actually turn fans against the third baseman before he even sets foot in Citi Field.

There have been many trade ideas regarding Arenado all over the place this winter. This one feels realistic to me. The Mets would obviously need some assurance Arenado cannot opt-out of his deal. Otherwise, I’m afraid this trade proposal has the most potential to bite New York.

Quentin Haynes includes some cash in his Nolan Arenado trade offer

We arrive at our final trade idea. This one, from Quentin Haynes, includes a little bit of cash going to Colorado.

Haynes isn’t the first to mention Robinson Cano in any Arenado deal. SNY has proposed the same thing which I don’t quite get. There are probably teams out there willing to take on Arenado’s full contract.

What Haynes does do right is include a little more balance with the Mets paying $5 million per year through the rest of Cano’s contract. This would definitely prevent the Rockies from hanging up the phone immediately.

Including Davis makes a whole lot of sense as well. For some young talent, Thomas Szapucki also heads westward.

This deal seems to be more about the Rockies getting out from under contract than adding players that can help them in the future. Davis is a good big leaguer, but nowhere on the same level as Arenado. The jury is out on what Szapucki will eventually come. However, he’s not a prospect ranked nearly as high as the others mentioned in our previous trade ideas.

The plus with this trade is that I don’t see Mets fans getting too angry about it. Getting rid of Cano would, alone, get them excited. Most probably understand Davis has to go. As a lesser prospect, losing Szapucki would also sit well enough.

In any trade proposal for Arenado, the Mets will probably need to include at least one big league bat, a prospect, and one more player. Depending on how ready the Rockies are to try and win would determine if it’s another big leaguer or a piece from the farm.

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Thank you to Michael, James, and Quentin for helping me with this. I would trust each of them in the GM chair to not do anything stupid.