3 best NY Mets trade matches at the MLB Winter Meetings

The MLB Winter Meetings are kicking off. Aside from the trade deadline, this is one of the most active times in baseball. The New York Mets have already been active this off-season, but things should start heating up even more this week. There’s still work to be done, and the Mets should be quite active on the trade market over the coming days. But what teams make the most sense for the Mets to engage in trade talks with?

1) Miami Marlins

The Miami Marlins have been in a seller’s mode since last April. Luis Arraez, Jazz Chisholm, Trevor Rogers, Tanner Scott, Bryan De La Cruz, Josh Bell, and A.J. Puk are some of the notable names they’ve swapped in the last year. The Marlins are likely not done, and they have some players the Mets might be interested in.

The Mets could still use another starting pitcher. They’re taking a gamble on Frankie Montas rebounding, especially with Clay Holmes. Holmes has primarily worked as the New York Yankees’ closer for the last three years, and the Mets plan on trying him out in the rotation. The Fish will likely be open to trading Southpaws Jesus Luzardo and Ryan Weathers. 

Luzardo is coming off an injury-marred season where he had just a 5.00 ERA, 4.26 FIP, and 1.25 WHIP while only pitching 66.2 innings. But he’s only one season removed from a 3.58 ERA, 3.55 FIP, and 1.22 WHIP in 178.2 innings in 2023. Weathers only pitched 86 innings but quietly put together a solid campaign with a 3.63 ERA, 4.11 FIP, and 1.18 WHIP in his age-24 campaign.

Luzardo and Weathers would be great fits on the Marlins, but they also have some relievers that may catch the Mets’ eye. Despite less-than-stellar ERAs, Andrew Nardi, Anthony Bender, Declan Cronin, and Calvin Faucher each had solid seasons with great peripherals. But the Mets could definitely use some relief help behind closing pitcher Edwin Diaz.

Lastly, the Marlins do have a slugger who could help the Mets out at first base if Pete Alonso signs elsewhere. Over the last two years, Jake Burger has proven to be one of baseball’s best sluggers, batting .250/.305/.488 with a .337 wOBA and 113 wRC+ since the start of the 2023 season. Burger has 63 home runs over the last two seasons, which is the 17th most in baseball.