Mets Trade Rumors: Which third baseman makes the most sense?

Three third basemen have appeared in offseason New York Mets trade rumors. Which makes the most sense?

Even after their blockbuster deal with the Cleveland Indians, New York Mets trade rumors don’t appear to be completed. There are still plenty of rumblings. While some have settled down, there are still talks about the team pursuing third base help.

Right now, the team looks ready to enter the season with J.D. Davis at the hot corner. I wouldn’t be so sure. Davis isn’t a very good defender. If you listened to Sandy Alderson’s recent appearance on Carton & Roberts on WFAN last week, you will have also noticed how long he paused when asked about Davis’ future with the club.

Given these factors and more, any Mets trade rumors involved a third base upgrade should be taken with a little more than a grain of salt. I do think they’re going to at least seriously explore the possibilities. First, let’s contemplate which third baseman makes the most sense in New York.

Nolan Arenado

It must be hard to root for the Colorado Rockies these days. They seem to be in perpetual selling mode. Star third baseman Nolan Arenado has been talked about in plenty of rumors. This offseason, he joined the Mets trade rumors bundle.

Arenado is probably the best and most consistent of the three on this list. Scratch that. He is the best.

A three-time home run champion, eight-time Gold Glove winner in every season of his big league career, and a guy you can usually count on to finish in the top 10 of the MVP vote, Arenado is one of the game’s best.

Considering this, why wouldn’t the Mets want to pursue?

Arenado is signed to a huge deal through the 2026 season which would take him up to his age 35 season. It’s not so ridiculous but the money is. He’ll make $35 million from 2021-2024 with a slight decrease in the final two remaining years.

Additionally, there are bonuses. Oh, and most important of all, Arenado has an opt-out after the 2021 campaign. Nobody can ignore this.

If the Mets trade for Arenado, they need to lock him up long-term. It’s the case with many of the trade targets we have seen with this team during the first winter of Steve Cohen.

Desperate to escape this big deal, Colorado might be willing to part with this star third baseman for less than he’s actually worth. Still, it won’t come cheaply. Expect the Mets to pay with at least one of their better prospects and a major league or near-ready MLB player.