Why these 3 NY Mets players might be better trade candidates closer to Opening Day

The MLB Hot Stove is burning with discussions about possible New York Mets trades leading the way. We’ve heard plenty, speculated even more, and come to multiple conclusions about what the team could do next. The Brandon Nimmo trade caught most of us by surprise even with the present rumors about him going on the block.

While the stove continues to burn, the thought is the upcoming MLB Winter Meetings could be the time when another major trade goes down. Quite the opposite could be true, too. None of these Mets players are necessarily ones the team needs to subtract immediately. For the sake of depth, options, and getting the best deal possible, it may make more sense to move forward with these players and see what develops closer to Opening Day.

1) Kodai Senga

There are no Mets trade rumors hotter right now than the ones on Kodai Senga. Fans of teams outside of New York might be surprised to see the Mets shopping him at all. His fall-off after his IL return was so poor the team may have lost complete faith he’ll ever be his ace-like self again.

What if trading him isn’t such an urgent action they need to necessarily take? We know David Stearns loves starting pitching depth. He compiled more starters than he would’ve known what to do with last offseason. If not for injuries to Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas, and Paul Blackburn (a much smaller scale with him), there would have been some unique transactions required in order to make it all work. Someone would have needed to be cut from the team or multiple would have been placed in the bullpen.

An opportunity to acquire a pitcher like Senga days before Opening Day would be a fascinating proposition for any ball club. Considering he pitched as poorly as he did to complete the 2025 season, it may only increase his value if he’s pitching well in the spring. To that same end, the Mets may prefer to hold onto him if he’s excelling in St. Lucie.

Whether the Mets add a starting pitcher or not shouldn’t determine Senga’s ultimate fate. A late March trade to replace someone’s injured ace isn’t out of the question.