3 NY Mets players who aren’t as safe as they think with the trade deadline nearing

We’re only a week away from the MLB trade deadline. Take a breath. Relax. It’s not the end all, be all for the New York Mets. As important of a day as it is, games are won on the field. Often, it’s under-the-radar trade deadline moves that end up rewarding a team most. The Mets, under David Stearns, likely have at least one of those cooking.

How big the Mets go will be determined by the price other teams demand for their players. Stearns has shown a hesitance to take major risks. This year shouldn’t be too much different.

Several Mets players will head to the office on August 1, business as usual. They won’t be traded, in danger of being released, or a candidate to get demoted. These three, on the other hand, might not be as safe as they think.

1) Mark Vientos

Could the Mets actually trade Mark Vientos? They held onto him when he was a rising prospect. After struggling in the majors, they kept the faith (or weren’t willing to sell him on a low). After last year’s impressive showing, trading him was out of the question. He was going to be that important bat in the lineup for years to come; or not.

Vientos has been a major disappointment. Just 6 home runs this year, with his last happening on May 28, his status with the team is as uncertain as ever. There is no minor league option to send him down to Syracuse to work on things. His ongoing 5-game hitting streak is nice to see yet far from enough to save him from becoming trade bait.

The problem with Vientos is that he has clearly shown he cannot be a good enough defensive third baseman. Where does this leave him? Some first base and DH duties make sense. But what if another team views Vientos so highly they’d be willing to give the Mets back a piece that’ll help them right now?

Pitching is more valuable than hitters at the trade deadline even if the position players can contribute far more regularly. It would be a somewhat sad turn of events if all the Mets get for Vientos in a trade is a rental bullpen arm. With Starling Marte back from the IL and Brett Baty outplaying Vientos in every way possible, it’s going to be more difficult for him to find at-bats. 

If he makes it past the trade deadline with the Mets, which I do think he will, a further reduction in playing time is on the way.