5 way-too-early NY Mets trade deadline targets to familiarize ourselves with

5) Luis Rengifo

Second base is the most questionable position the Mets have entering 2025. Jeff McNeil will likely be the team’s go-to answer at the position, but his last two seasons haven’t been all that great. If he doesn’t rebound, the Mets will have to turn to a young option like Luisangel Acuna or Ronny Mauricio (if he is healthy). If the Mets find themselves in a situation where they need more help up the middle but don’t want to commit to a long-term solution, then Luis Rengfio could be on the trading block by July.

Rengifo was healthy enough to only play about half of the season, appearing in 78 games with 304 plate appearances. But when he was healthy, he put up some quality numbers, batting .300/.347/.417 with a .335 wOBA and 117 wRC+. Rengfio only hit six home runs and, had a .117 isolated slugging percentage, and only walked in 5.3% of his plate appearances. However, he also struck out at a career-low 14.5% rate and swiped 24 bases.

But Rengifo has had better seasons in the past. He hit over 15 home runs in both 2022 (17) and 2023 (16) and walked much more frequently in ‘23 (9.2%). Although Rengifo’s 87 MPH exit velocity is right around his career average of 87.4 MPH, his barrel rate fell to a microscopic 2.5%.

Rengfio has over 600 career innings at second base, third base, and shortstop. He isn’t a good defender at any of those three positions, with negative defensive runs saved and outs above average at both positions up the middle, negative OAA, and only +1 DRS at the hot corner. He could even be an option in the outfield from time to time, as he has 238 innings between all three outfield positions.

Rengfio is only controlled through 2025 and is making just under $6 million this year. The Angels are filled with one-year veterans, including Rengifo. He could definitely be someone the Mets look into if they need to add an infielder without setting up a roadblock for some of their young options, like Acuna or Mauricio.