Mets would be foolish to not make this Matt Chapman trade

The Matt Chapman trade rumors from last week got many New York Mets fans excited about the idea of acquiring a power-hitting, Gold Glove-winning third baseman. Although nothing has gone beyond some early speculation, many are diving deep into what it might take to acquire the star third baseman from the Oakland Athletics.

Over at the main site on FanSided, Mark Powell offered his insight into what it might take to land Chapman.

Powell put together a trade package for Chapman which would cost the Mets four players including one major league player.

Should the Mets make this trade for Matt Chapman?

Anytime you trade four players for one, there’s a little hesitation. How can four equal one?

Let’s consider a few things. J.D. Davis is a casualty in any trade for a third baseman. It’s a no-brainer. I’m cool with it.

We have barely gotten to know Khalil Lee and Michel Otanez is not a high-level prospect. I’m okay with this.

Any doubts begin when we see the Mets trading Brett Baty. The former first-round pick looks like the potential third baseman of the future in Flushing. However, if the club is acquiring Chapman, do they really need him anymore?

It’s impossible to have any clue as to what Baty will eventually develop into. He has played only 51 professional games. A top 100 prospect in baseball according to some of the rankings, Baty’s stock is high heading into 2021.

The biggest question with this trade

Will Baty become a better player than Chapman? It’s the biggest question we must ask in this potential deal.

If the answer is “yes” then maybe you want to slow down but only for a little bit. Chapman is better than Baty is right now and we need to live in the moment. The Mets are building for a championship right now with some thought toward the future. Chapman is still young and could help the Mets out for at least the next few seasons. Baty is likely a few years away from making it to the big leagues. Because of this timeline, he’s the best piece the Mets may need to move.

Fans can get caught up in holding onto too many of their best prospects. For a player of Chapman’s caliber—with the years of control added in as well—I don’t think too many are upset about a trade idea such as this.

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There may be some love for Davis, but even his biggest supporters seem to understand he might not be the best fit as the everyday third baseman. At the price proposed by Powell, it would be hard for the Mets to not quickly get the physical done, the paperwork signed, and Chapman fitted for a blue and orange jersey.