3 NY Mets trade ideas involving nothing but players on their 40-man roster

3) Starling Marte to the Rangers for Peyton Gray

Yesterday’s Starling Marte trade rumors had me thinking: what could the Mets get right now in exchange from another team to actually help them? Last year’s trade for Tyler Zuber from the Rays gave us a hint. A pitcher performing well in Triple-A is probably the best case scenario.

In this trade, the Mets send Marte to the Texas Rangers for Peyton Gray. He’s a 30-year-old who spent a part of his career with the Colorado Rockies and Kansas City Royals in the minor leagues with a lot of experience in the Independent League. Delighted with his results in Mexico, the Rangers signed him to a minor league contract. He has been exceptional on the farm this season.

Gray has a 2.25 ERA in Double-A and has been better in Triple-A, throwing to a 2.21 ERA. In 48.2 total innings, most coming in Triple-A, he’s 6-4 with a 2.22 ERA. His 11.5 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9 is right about where you’d want it.

Already Rule 5 Draft eligible and no MLB experience, it would be a risk-taking move by the Mets. However, if there is any interest in trading Marte, this is the most immediate way to benefit from it. 

Who says no: The Mets. The Rangers could actually benefit from having Marte around. They’ve hit left-handed pitchers as bad as anyone and their DH/OF situation has been horrendous.

The only way this works is if the Mets are adding a MLB replacement for Marte.