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

Jul 10, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (17) bats against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 10, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (17) bats against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 16, 2021; San Francisco, California, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eduardo Escobar (5) during the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports /

NY Mets slugger trade target: Eduardo Escobar

Another name written and discussed plenty as a trade option for the Mets and every other team that loses out on the Bryant sweepstakes is Eduardo Escobar. A member of the Arizona Diamondbacks, he has already reached 20 home runs this season and driven in 60 runs.

Escobar has bounced back nicely from a down year in 2020 which saw him knock only 4 home runs in 222 trips to the plate while hitting .212. An All-Star for the first time this year, he’s a slugger the Mets could consider renting for the final two months.

Escobar put on his best power display in 2019 with the Diamondbacks, mashing 35 home runs and driving in 118. Prior to this, he did have two seasons with 21+ long balls.

As a rental, the cost to acquire Escobar shouldn’t be exorbitantly high. While a good player, he doesn’t have the same offensive abilities as someone like Bryant. Fortunately, he does have more positional flexibility than Donaldson and continues to produce runs even on such a terrible ball club.

Not exactly a slugger for a lengthy part of his career, Escobar might be peaking just in time to help the Amazins with a 2021 playoff run. Since he’s a free agent after this season, there’s little risk in adding him.