NY Mets: 3 Kris Bryant trade alternatives who can swat home runs

Kris Bryant is the bell of the ball this summer for teams looking to add superstar talent via trade. The 2016 National League MVP is a top target for the New York Mets and a guy who could fit in at a variety of positions.

With no leverage yet on executing a deal, it’s a race between the Mets and other contenders to pull off this blockbuster move.

Fortunately, if the Mets do fail to add Bryant, there are a few players they can turn to add a slugger. These guys might not be some of the best players out there, but each has shown an ability to pop home runs more than your average player. Each is also a fit for the club and could give them the offensive boost they could use.

NY Mets slugger trade target: Josh Donaldson

Josh Donaldson is the expensive trade target for the Mets to consider. A member of the Minnesota Twins, Donaldson is signed to a very unfriendly contact. Adding him would drain the payroll extensively. This is precisely why many Mets fans would prefer to go with a rental option such as Bryant or possibly get more in return than just this veteran third baseman.

Donaldson hasn’t had a red-letter season, but he isn’t far removed from slugging home runs at an above-average rate. Let’s not forget this is the guy who signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Braves in 2017 and went on to slug 37 home runs.

Donaldson hasn’t had quite the same power with the Twins, smacking 19 in his first 376 plate appearances with the team. It may seem light, but translated into a full year, Donaldson is capable of potentially ripping 30.

Far from the ideal choice, a trade for Donaldson won’t cost all that much in terms of prospects. This is what makes him most intriguing of all. If the Mets can eat his high salary, that’s all it might take to land the 2015 American League MVP.