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1 best trade target for the NY Mets on the NL East rivals ready to sell

The New York Mets should be busy at the 2025 trade deadline. Going after interdivision trade candidates could help bolster their roster down the stretch.
ByNoah Wright|
Jun 22, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Michael Soroka (34) pitches the ball during the second inning against The Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Jun 22, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Michael Soroka (34) pitches the ball during the second inning against The Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
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The National League East is a two-team race this season. Only two teams aren't 10+ games out of the division: the Philadelphia Phillies and our New York Mets. That likely means the rest of the East is going to be sellers to some degree. While inter-division trades aren't common, the Mets aren't afraid to make one, like when they acquired Jesse Winker from the Washington Nationals at last year's deadline. Now, with the Mets likely being big buyers at the deadline, they should go after these three rival players in trades.

1) Michael Soroka

The Washington Nationals picked up Michael Soroka this offseason on a one-year contract after he showed some promise in a rebound season with the Chicago White Sox. Although he excelled out of the Sox's bullpen, the Nats decided to move the former Rookie of the Year finalist and All-Star back into the rotation. The results have been mixed, to say the least.

There are definitely some negatives to his return to a full-time starting pitching role. In 63.1 innings, Soroka owns a 5.40 ERA, 1.42 HR/9, and is in the 33rd percentile of exit velocity. The right-hander also missed all of April due to a biceps strain. However, there are many more positives to Soroka's game at the moment.

Despite giving up his fair share of hard contact, he's not getting barreled up, with a barrel percentage of just 6.5%, which is in the 76th percentile. This is because he is also in the 67th percentile of ground ball percentage at 45.9%. Soroka is getting plenty of strikeouts with a 26.2% K%, while only dishing out free passes 6.4% of the time. His 14.9% HR:FB ratio, despite a solid ground ball and barrel rate, shows some bad luck in a smaller sample size. ERA estimators are very positive toward Soroka. He has a 3.72 xFIP, 3.38 SIERA, and is in the top 79th percentile of xERA at 3.19. 

The Mets reportedly showed interest in Soroka during the offseason. They were targeting him for the starting rotation before pivoting their focus toward Clay Holmes. With his solid underlying peripherals and the previous connection, the Mets make a strong trade partner for the Nationals in a deal involving Soroka.

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