3 Mets starting pitcher trade targets not named Garrett Crochet

The most highly sought-after starting pitcher on the trade market this off-season is Chicago White Sox southpaw Garrett Crochet. The hard-throwing lefty is coming off a great breakout season and will look to build upon it in 2025. His season is obviously garnering a lot of attention from teams that need starting pitchers, and the New York Mets are certainly a team that could use another rotation arm. Last season, Luis Severino, Sean Manaea, and Jose Quintana started at least 31 games. They all had an ERA under 4.00 as well. However, this trio are now all free agents, leaving a massive hole in the Mets’ rotation.

But while Crochet would be great, there are other pitchers on the trade market to keep in mind. The Mets should have plenty of other opportunities to acquire a starting pitcher and reinforce their rotation beyond the White Sox lefty. So, let’s look at some Garrett Crochet alternatives that are likely on the trading block.

1) Zack Littell

The Tampa Bay Rays are known for their pitching development, and over the last two seasons, they successfully transformed Zack Littell from a middle-inning reliever into an effective starting pitcher. Littell has now been a very solid starter in the Rays’ rotation since 2023, and with the team likely continuing to retool, Littell could be traded next.

Littell has pitched 243.2 innings with the Rays, making 43 starts in 55 total appearances. The right-hander owns a 3.74 ERA, 3.93 FIP, and 1.21 WHIP throughout those innings. Littell carries a below-average 20.9% strikeout rate with the Rays. But has been great at limiting free passes. His 4.2% BB% is the fourth best in baseball over the last two years, only surpassed by George Kirby, Zach Eflin, and Miles Mikolas (min. 200 IP).

Littell’s underlying numbers also paint a similar picture. He has a 3.99 SIERA and 4.03 xFIP, both of which are roughly where his ERA sits in Tampa. The only major flaw in Littell’s game is his ability to induce soft contact. Opponents have an 89.3 MPH exit velo and a 9.1% barrel rate against him. But either way, Littell has been a solid middle-of-the-rotation-type arm over the last two seasons.

Littell is only controlled through 2025. But MLB Trade Rumors currently only projects him to make $4.8 million in arbitration. Less than $5 million for a guy who can be a number-three type starter is a steal.