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NY Mets: Ranking the top 10 trade targets this offseason

By Ryan Schlachter

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 14: Detail of the Nike shoes worn by Pete Alonso #20 of the New York Mets during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field on April 14, 2021 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 14: Detail of the Nike shoes worn by Pete Alonso #20 of the New York Mets during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field on April 14, 2021 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – SEPTMEBER 21: Matt Chapman #26 of the Oakland Athletics fields during the game against the Seattle Mariners at RingCentral Coliseum on September 21, 2021 in Oakland, California. The Mariners defeated the Athletics 5-2. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – SEPTMEBER 21: Matt Chapman #26 of the Oakland Athletics fields during the game against the Seattle Mariners at RingCentral Coliseum on September 21, 2021 in Oakland, California. The Mariners defeated the Athletics 5-2. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images) /

2) Matt Chapman

Matt Chapman is one of the best defensive players in all of baseball, the Oakland Athletics are going to sell this offseason and the Mets still don’t have an answer at third base.

The Matt Chapman rumors have been swirling for some time, but with early reports indicating that the Athletics are looking to sell off some high-priced pieces, the reality of the platinum glove winner coming to Flushing could be a reality.

Chapman had a down 2021, which was actually common around the league for a lot of stars. His OPS was below .800 for the first time since his rookie year and the same goes for his slugging percentage, which dipped below .500. 2021 should be seen as an outlier and while the bat wasn’t fully there, the glove certainly was, again.

For the third time in five seasons, Chapman took home a gold glove award. This kind of defensive presence, combined with another gold glove winner and finalist in 2021, Francisco Lindor, could give the Mets the best left side of the infield in baseball, defensively. And while Chapman’s glove has been the most consistent thing in his career, the 28-year old can rake. He hit 36 homers in 2019 and also received MVP votes both that year and in 2018.

Chapman will earn $9.5M this season and is due for arbitration next year, but if Oakland has shown anything over the years, it’s that they aren’t scared to shed payroll or trade big stars. Saving almost $10M in a smaller market like Oakland would be ideal and the Mets would be able to add a potential MVP candidate to their roster. Did we mention that Chapman is right handed?

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