7 NY Mets players who must be traded this summer, another 6 they should keep

After the MLB All-Star Game, focus around MLB is on the trade deadline. The New York Mets players have made it easy. They’re going to sell.

Exactly who and where is when the fun debates begin. The team is capable of pulling off some big and small trades in a market that should favor sellers. They have seven players they absolutely need to trade by August 3 and another six who should stick around through the end of the season

These Mets players need to be traded by August 3

A.J. Minter

A left-handed reliever with loads of experience in big games from his time with the Atlanta Braves, his expiring contract makes him a must-sell. Could he be invited back next year to rejoin the Mets? The club will have a need.

Brooks Raley

In the same boat as Minter with a contract about to expire, the Mets absolutely need to move Brooks Raley. He’s getting paid close to a third of what Minter is which could help make the return even greater and widen the field.

Freddy Peralta

Some Mets fans would trade Freddy Peralta just to end the experience. It hasn’t gone well for Peralta who, unlike Minter and Raley, doesn’t seem destined to get the invite. It’s not that he’s a bad guy or an ill-fit within the clubhouse. Something about trying the same thing over again after it failed once won’t be something fans should buy.

Tyrone Taylor

It seems like Tyrone Taylor is getting ignored on lists of Mets trade candidates. He needs to go for the simple reason he is a free agent. Even if all the Mets get back is some cash, there’s little reason for him to eat up innings from anyone else. A random waiver flier would be preferred.

Cionel Perez

Another one of those “take what you can get for him” types of players, Cionel Perez’s best attribute is throwing- left-handed. This god-given ability should have at least a few times offering up a 26-year-old in High-A in exchange for him. There's a good chance he's off the Mets roster before we get close enough for deals to start picking up.

Luis Robert Jr.

If the Mets don’t get him back before August 3, they’ll have trouble moving Luis Robert Jr. His $20 million salary this year is already a deterrent for some who’d be buying into the same oft-injured player New York traded for. It wouldn’t be smart to keep him around beyond this season under any creative planning whether it’s to pick up his option or make him a qualifying offer. This leaves them with one choice: sell him at a low and hope for the best.

Mike Tauchman*

Two questions: what would they get and why wouldn’t anything be good enough? Mike Tauchman’s rehab is underway and interestingly, if he doesn’t make it onto the 40-man roster by August 3 he could actually become a trade candidate in August or September. He signed a minor league contract and with zero time spent in the majors this year, there isn’t a true deadline. He gets a nice asterisk next to his name.

These Mets players don’t need to be traded by August 3

Luke Weaver

By all accounts, it’s going to take a haul for the Mets to give up Luke Weaver. I’d rather not short of the Mets being able to immediately help themselves in a drastic way for 2027. Weaver for a guy who becomes a starting corner infielder or pitcher for the team next season is a must to move him.

Huascar Brazoban

A little more iffy because of his age and the fact the Mets would be selling high, the uncertainty with relievers should have them hesitant to move Huascar Brazoban. He’ll be a little easier to accept as a trade candidate just because of how combustible he was at times in 2024 and less so in 2025.

Francisco Alvarez and Luis Torrens

The offer might need to be mind-blowing to get the Mets to move off of one of their catchers. Pulling the plug on Francisco Alvarez would be premature outside of an upgrade at another position. As for Luis Torrens, your search for a strong backup starts immediately and you’re probably not going to find it. Considering they extended him this year for another two seasons, this seems particularly doubtful.

Brett Baty

A scenario exists where someone overpays for Brett Baty just because they believe in him a lot, too. Suddenly playing better baseball, the wiser choice would be to let him heat up for the final two months and move him in the offseason.

Clay Holmes

Extend him. Don’t go into the offseason without agreeing to a new contract. Clay Holmes was too good for the Mets when healthy and the obvious backup plan of slotting him back in as a reliever makes even a three-year deal in the $60-75 million range survivable albeit an overpay if they do have to move him into relief.

What about everyone else?

The rest of the roster is either an easy must keep or not worth enough on the trade market. A player like MJ Melendez holds no trade value. Jared Young has more value to the Mets than he would for anyone willing to trade. Then there are players like Kodai Senga who's more of a DFA candidate and Sean Manaea who probably needs more than a half-dozen starts to prove he's a solution.

Don't bring up Francisco Lindor's name until there are reports of offers.

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