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Mets trade offers from a Reds fan over at Blog Red Machine to think about

By Tim Boyle

Apr 11, 2019; Cincinnati, OH, USA; A view of a New Era on field Reds hat in the game of the Miami Marlins against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 11, 2019; Cincinnati, OH, USA; A view of a New Era on field Reds hat in the game of the Miami Marlins against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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Is there a trade the New York Mets and Cincinnati Reds can make? Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /

While New York Mets fans are scrambling for answers as to how the team can stay afloat amid all of the injuries, fans in other parts of the country are wondering if they have anything they can offer as help.

This isn’t a life raft they are throwing out to the Mets. Not at all. They’re reaching a paddle out to the Mets in hopes of striking a deal. As with all trades other than the Cameron Maybin for a buck deal, they want something in return.

Over at Blog Red Machine, FanSided’s Cincinnati Reds blog, Drew Koch put together three different trade scenarios the Mets and Reds could explore. They range widely and I thought it was worth looking at each of these trade offers Koch put together not only because he does great work over there but also because the Reds are one of the best trade partners available to the Mets even beyond just these three trades.

Mets trade Robert Gsellman and Jacob Barnes to the Reds for Shogo Akiyama, Jose De Leon, and Ivan Johnson

Let me be upfront right away: I don’t know much about Jose De Leon or Ivan Johnson. They aren’t too important in this trade anyway as the focus is to land Shogo Akiyama to help the depleted outfield. In a nutshell, De Leon is a poor reliever and Johnson is a low-level minor leaguer not hitting too well this year in Single-A.

Meanwhile, Akiyama is in an interesting spot with the Reds right now. The 33-year-old Japanese outfielder is making a lot of money for very little production. With a salary of $7 million this year and another $8 million next, he has profiled as more of a bench player than anything else.

Akiyama wouldn’t be a bad acquisition for the Mets even with his larger than necessary salary. The trouble I see coming in is what the Mets would do when guys start getting healthy. Do they simply send Albert Almora to the minors and replace him with Akiyama? It’s an expensive option.

The Mets aren’t giving up all that much in the deal by trading Jacob Barnes—a guy I suspect gets designated for assignment before the year is through. Robert Gsellman has pitched amazingly well for the club this year as a long man out of the bullpen. If the Mets can move him for a fifth outfielder who can hit somewhat decently, it might be something to think about.

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