NY Mets: 1 trade target to consider from each 100-loss team

Four Major League Baseball teams lost 100 or more games in 2021. None were exactly surprises. All began the year with low expectations and became midseason sellers. While the New York Mets fought to finish above .500, these four ball clubs punted the season entirely.

None of these four look like serious contenders in 2022 but they could speed up their timeline by making a trade or two with better teams—like the Mets.

From each of the four 100-loss teams, I found one trade candidate for the blue and orange to target. They fill a variety of needs. At the right price, each could be available.

Mets trade target on the Pirates: Bryan Reynolds

Now three seasons into his MLB career, Bryan Reynolds is tracking toward becoming one of the better center fielders in baseball. He was an All-Star in 2021 and went on to finish the year with a .302/.390/.522 slash line complete with a league-best 8 triples plus 24 home runs and 90 RBI.

On a very bad Pittsburgh Pirates club, he was one of the bright spots this past season. An obvious fit for the Mets in their outfield next season, the big question with him would be just how available he is.

Reynolds is making league minimum and isn’t a burden whatsoever on the low Pittsburgh payroll. In order to raid the Pirates’ roster and acquire him, the Mets would need to pay a steep price.

Adding Reynolds would be a great move but probably the only trade the Mets are capable of pulling off this winter with a huge impact. Is he proven enough to give up something major to acquire? I’m not so sure about that.

Reynolds should remain a huge trade candidate all winter long and even into the season as the Pirates continue to try and build with a rather poor team. Probably not on the move just yet, maybe we can keep tabs on him and see how things unfold in the near future. He can do a little bit of everything and could eventually become one of the hot stove’s headliners.

Mets trade target on the Orioles: John Means

The Mets actually did try to make this trade with the Baltimore Orioles last offseason. John Means, now best known for throwing a no-hitter, has seen his value increase after this most recent season but not necessarily because of how he performed. Means is kind of average but seems to be one of those arms teams view as a “change of scenery” guy.

Get him out of Camden Yards and maybe his lifetime 3.82 ERA goes down drastically. After all, his 1.07 WHIP is quite remarkable.

Means has been troubled by home runs in his career but with a 3.60 ERA and 3.62 ERA season in his two full campaigns, there are signs of better days ahead.

Means reaches arbitration for the first time this winter so he’s not going to get paid a ton but will see his salary go up. Now might be the best chance for the Orioles to trade him. Already 28 with his next birthday in April, dealing him away now when teams want him could work out in their favor.

The Mets might have a little trouble clearing space in their rotation to make this kind of deal happen. I figure they’re going to bring in at least one guy with number one or two abilities, even if it’s simply to re-sign Marcus Stroman.

Means isn’t a solution for the Mets. I view him more as a complimentary piece and someone to explore adding.

Mets trade targets on the Rangers: Brett Martin

Would you believe the Texas Rangers don’t have much to offer the Mets? Realistically, there aren’t too many great fits. Lefty reliever Brett Martin is probably the best.

Now three years into his MLB career, Martin had gone 7-8 with a 3.75 ERA in 139.1 innings. Last year, he was 4-4 with a 3.18 ERA in 62.1 innings. He held lefties to a .255 batting average which might not seem superb but it’s good enough as the second lefty in the bullpen.

The Mets absolutely need to reunite with Aaron Loup. After what he gave them in 2021, letting him slip away would be criminal.

However, the team could benefit from having at least one other lefty they can trust out of the bullpen. Martin is young, controllable, and not too costly. While the Rangers are running to the market to sell him, they have no reason to hold on too tightly if the Mets can at least give them a decent offer.

It might not be exciting at all to think of the Mets making winter trades for middle relievers. As boring as it is, players like these can make a huge difference. Add in how many free agents the Mets have in their bullpen after the 2022 season, it’s important to start adding controllable guys now before everyone leaves.

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Which other trade targets do you see on the 100-loss clubs?