Mets trade scenarios to possibly unload Jeurys Familia’s salary

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 25: Jeurys Familia #27 of the New York Mets in action against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on August 25, 2020 in New York City. Miami Marlins defeated the New York Mets 3-0. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

The New York Mets are still among the most active teams in both free agency as well as the trade market. While there have been mixed reports on whether the front office plans to go over the luxury tax threshold, one move that makes sense for the Mets is finding a way to move reliever Jeurys Familia’s one-year and $10 million left on his deal that sticks out like a sore thumb on the Mets current payroll.

While Familia bounced back in 2020 from a horrendous showing in 2019, the Mets certainly could use that $10 million in other areas that they are trying to fill this offseason, especially if the luxury tax is a legitimate concern.

The Mets 40-man roster is also currently loaded with right-handed arms that could play a part in the bullpen this season which makes Familia all the more expendable for the front office.

The Mets front office has three potential options to upgrade their roster while unloading the remaining $10 million on Jeurys Familia’s contract.

The Mets have two relievers on the active roster who are making a combined $16 million in Jeurys Familia and Dellin Betances. While the jury is still out on whether Betances will be healthy enough to regain his former form in 2021, Familia is the more valuable pitcher of the two currently and there will certainly be interest in the 31-year old reliever at the right price.

With all of this being said, I wanted to explain three different trade scenarios in which the front office has the chance to unload all or most of Familia’s remaining $10 million. The Mets successfully were able to unload Steven Matz’s remaining $5 million for three prospects, and it would not shock me in the least if Familia is the next player to go as the front office continues to explore upgrades to the roster.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 25: Jeurys Familia #27 of the New York Mets in action against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field on July 25, 2020 in New York City. The 2020 season had been postponed since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Braves defeated the Mets 5-3 in ten innings. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

1) Mets include Jeurys Familia as a piece in a blockbuster trade for a third baseman.

In this particular scenario, the Mets front office is able to unload Familia’s contract in a deal for a third baseman who also comes with a high price tag. For example, some options would include Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant, or the Mets could also include Familia in the speculative package deal of Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez and starting pitcher Sonny Gray.

Familia’s inclusion in any of these deals would be to offset the salaries of the players who would be coming back to Queens in one of these blockbuster deals. Surely it’s not only going to take Familia to land one of the listed players above, but those teams among others around the league would surely be interested in taking on the remaining year of Familia’s deal if it meant getting out from under an expensive contract on their own end.

There would be many other moving pieces in this scenario that includes Familia, so it’s difficult to get too specific as far as further trade details. However, this would be the ideal layout for the Mets to both upgrade their current roster, as well as relieve themselves of the $10 million that is still owed to a reliever who has an unknown role in a crowded bullpen heading into 2021.

I had previously stated in another article a couple of weeks ago that moving Jeurys Familia’s salary would be key for the Mets to potentially acquire another star this offseason, and I still stand by the sentiment. Should the Mets find themselves in the running for one of the star third basemen on the trading block, I would expect Familia’s name to be included in any one of those deals.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 08: Jeurys Familia #27 of the New York Mets in action against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on August 08, 2020 in New York City. New York Mets defeated the Miami Marlins 8-4. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

2) Mets trade Jeurys Familia and a lower end prospect for cash considerations or a player to be named later.

While this potential scenario is not the most exciting of the bunch, it’s a trade to provide the front office financial relief to make further moves this offseason or potentially frees up money for Zack Scott and Sandy Alderson to be active participants at the Trade Deadline later this summer.

The framework of this deal is similar to the recent trade between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox in which the Yankees unloaded reliever Adam Ottavino and prospect Frank German for cash or a player to be named later. With this trade, the Yankees were able to open up more than $8 million on their payroll to make further moves to improve their roster. The goal was for the organization to allocate those funds for greater needs and they certainly have done that since the trade was finalized.

The Mets would most likely need to attach a lower end prospect, as the Yankees did, in order for a team to pick up the remaining money on Familia’s deal. This deal plain and simple could be explained as a salary dump. It’s more of a “look at the big picture” kind of trade since the Mets wouldn’t be receiving much in return besides salary relief.

However, allocating the $10 million that is remaining on Familia’s deal for other needs would be a huge win for the Mets should a deal such as this one work out. The new regime has already proven to be aggressive in filling needs on the roster this winter. The possibilities would be endless should the front office be given an extra $10 million to utilize this offseason or to use to spend at the trade deadline later this season.

NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 11: Pitcher Jeurys Familia #27 of the New York Mets pitches in relief in an MLB baseball game against the Washington Nationals on August 11, 2019 at Citi Field in the Queens borough of New York City. Nationals won 7-4. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images) /

3) Mets trade Jeurys Familia and pay a portion of the remaining $10 million in exchange for a depth need on the Major League roster or mid-level prospect.

In this final trade scenario that includes Jeurys Familia, the Mets would be paying a portion of the remaining $10 million in order to receive a player of value in return. This type of trade could certainly work out for a team that is in need of bullpen help and views Familia as a potential contributor in 2021. This isn’t saying that Familia couldn’t be a contributor on the Mets this season, but with the addition of Trevor May, and Seth Lugo being shifted back to the bullpen, the late innings that Familia is accustomed to pitching in will be few and far between.

For the Mets, they certainly could use this scenario to pick up a player to utilize off the bench or more starting pitching depth. If the front office is content in both of those areas they could pick up a mid-level prospect depending on how much money they would eat in return.

The outcome of this trade would fill one of the goals the front office set out to accomplish this offseason which was building depth or reloading the farm system. While the Mets would potentially be on the hook for a portion of Familia’s remaining salary, in this case, they would also have the opportunity to address a bigger need.

There are certainly teams desperate for bullpen help around the league, and one team that intrigues me is the Oakland Athletics. The A’s recently lost their closer, Liam Hendriks, to the Chicago White Sox via free agency and have experience with Familia in the past. It’s just speculation on my part, but if there is a potential match to be made between both organizations it makes all of the sense in the world.

Next. Signing Aaron Loup enhances bullpen’s effectiveness

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While there are no official rumors currently in regards to Familia being actively shopped on the trading block, I’m fairly confident it’s an area the front office has explored and will continue to explore as the offseason continues to move forward over the final month.

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The Mets front office has three potential options to upgrade their roster while unloading the remaining $10 million on Jeurys Familia’s contract.

1) Mets include Jeurys Familia as a piece in a blockbuster trade for a third baseman.

2) Mets trade Jeurys Familia and a lower end prospect for cash considerations or a player to be named later.

3) Mets trade Jeurys Familia and pay a portion of the remaining $10 million in exchange for a depth need on the Major League roster or mid-level prospect.

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