NY Mets: 3 potential trade partners for Dominic Smith

With the World Series behind us and the off-season officially underway, the New York Mets have several big decisions to make regarding the club’s big league roster in 2022.

Over the next few weeks, the Mets need to decide on extending qualifying offers, re-signing pending free agents or finding replacements on the open markets, as well as deciding what to do with several of the players under contract for next season.

One of the players whose future with the team appears to be in limbo is the left-handed first baseman/outfielder Dominic Smith, who is slated to be under contract with the team through the 2024 season.

Originally called up in the “tail-end” of 2017 as a first baseman, Smith has been supplanted in that role by 2019 Rookie of the Year Pete Alonso. Since then, he has transitioned into becoming a left fielder,

Smith severed as the starting left fielder for the bulk of 2021, appeared in for 114 games for the Mets in that position, while hitting .244 at the plate with a .304 OBP, along with 11 home runs and 58 RBI in 145 games

While Smith served decently as the starting left fielder, the Mets could do for an upgrade at the position if they hope to compete in 2022, ideally both offensively and defensively, and with Smith under contract for 3 more years, he makes for a good chip to trade.

Which teams would be good trade partners for the New York Mets to deal Dominic Smith to?

Ideally, since Smith is a natural first baseman and an average left fielder at best, any potential trade partner would need a starting first baseman to slot into their lineup, or in the case of an American League team, an opening for a new designated hitter.

As for what the Mets should look for in return, the best case scenario for a trade would be to acquire players that address the teams’ biggest needs, which are either outfielders or starting pitching, either at the major or minor league level.

With all that said, here are 3 teams would be ideal trade partners for the New York Mets:

The Pittsburg Pirates

One team that needs improvement in just about every area this offseason is the Pittsburg Pirates, and they could very well look to acquire a new starting first baseman via trade with the New York Mets.

The Buccos finished the 2021 season with a record of 61-101, ranking 5th place in the NL East and 4th worst in the MLB, so naturally, they should look to make some improvements this offseason.

While they have a few intriguing players at the big league level, they are entering this offseason with the no. 4 ranked farm system, while the Mets’ farm system is ranked 22nd overall.

This being the case, Smith could be an excellent player to deal to Pirates in exchange for a promising minor leaguer who they could either flip in another trade this offseason to upgrade a position, or one to develop to help the team in the future.

The Pirates’ are one of six organizations to have five or more players represented in the Top 100 prospects in the MLB, and a surplus of young pitchers currently ranked in their organizations’ top 30 prospects heading into the 2022 off-season.

Whether or not Pittsburg is interested in trading for Dominic Smith to fill their void at first base, or if they are the ones to offer the Mets the best deal for him is another question entirely, but if a deal were to be made, the Pirates certainly seem like a likely candidate.

The Chicago Cubs

In 2021 at the trade deadline, the Chicago Cubs dealt their long-time first baseman Anthony Rizzo to the New York Yankees in exchange for 2 minor leaguers, and could be looking into acquiring a long term replacement for him for 2022 and beyond.

Chicago may have a potential replacement in the form of 29-year-old Frank Schwindel, who batted .342 with 13 home runs and 40 RBI in 56 games for the Cubs after being claimed off wavers in July of last season, but he is by no means a lock for 2022.

Prior to last season, the right-handed Schwindel had been a career minor leaguer since being drafted back in 2013, and as such, Chicago could look into bringing in a left-handed first baseman such as Smith, to compete with him in Spring Training, as well as potentially platoon with him.

Smith’s ability to man the outfield could also be quite appealing for the Cubs. In the event Schwindel continues to build off of his 2021 success, Smith could easily fill one of the vacancies Chicago currently has in the outfield, getting both of their bats in the lineup.

The bottom line is, the Cubs could easily benefit from acquiring Smith’s services as they begin to rebuild their team after stripping it down at last years’ trade deadline, either having him play at first base or in left field.

As for players the Cubs have who could tempt Dominic away from New York, they currently have the 18th ranked farm system, with their top prospects list filled with a surplus of outfielders, as 12 of their top 30 can man the outfield.

Chicago also has several members of their major league club who could be on the trade block and potentially swapped for Dominic Smith in a larger deal, such as starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks, but that would have to be part of a much larger hypothetical deal.

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Regardless, the Cubs seem like a good fit to be trade partners for Dominic Smith, and if the price is right, the Mets could easily get a deal done with them.