3 MLB trade deadline rentals that are perfect fits for the NY Mets

The New York Mets are going to be buyers at the deadline. These 3 short term trade targets would fit the Mets' roster perfectly.
Jun 8, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins left fielder Willi Castro (50) reacts to hitting a single during the fifth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images
Jun 8, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins left fielder Willi Castro (50) reacts to hitting a single during the fifth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images | Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images
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A rental player is typically a player who is under control for a year or less. However, sometimes these players can be the most valuable players on the trade market at the deadline, and be the most impactful down the stretch. The New York Mets are definitely going to be buyers this year, and adding a short-term addition should definitely be on the table. There will be plenty of options, but with the Mets’ current needs, these three are near-perfect fits for the team to pursue.

1) Willi Castro

The Mets could use some help at second base, third base, and potentially an outfield position. But Minnesota Twins’ Willi Castro is a Swiss army knife who can play anywhere, and is an excellent batter. Castro is having a career year with the bat, slashing .270/.364/.426 with a .349 wOBA and 125 wRC+ throughout his first 265 plate appearances of the season. He is currently in the midst of his third straight season with a wRC+ of 107 or greater.

Castro has never been a huge power hitter, but his .157 isolated slugging percentage is a career high, and is about league average this year. Another career-best is his 10.2% walk rate, a sizeable improvement from his 8.1% BB% he had in 2023-2024, his first two years with the Twins. While he still strikes out at a mediocre 24.2% rate, it isn’t much worse than his career-average mark of 24%.

The best part is that Castro can help the Mets out at nearly any position. Third base has been a problem for the Mets since the start of June, and Castro has appeared in 80 games at the hot corner since joining the Twins in 2023. Second base has also been a question mark, and is a position that Castro has over 1300 career innings at. If the Mets need help in the outfield, Castro has played nearly 200 games in the grass since ‘23.

Although Castro may not be a great defender at any position, the fact he can give you a playable glove at so many spots on the field while providing an above-average bat makes him a valuable player to have on the roster. Adding Castro would give the Mets’ a ton of line-up flexibility.