NY Mets and Astros have what each other want, but there's a big hiccup

The New York Mets and the Houston Astros are both seeking the same thing this offseason, but they also could help each other out. The clubs are facing different realities. The Mets have Steve Cohen's deep pockets at their disposal, while Astros owner Jim Crane has drawn a line in the sand at the first luxury tax threshold.

Both clubs need starting pitching near the top of the rotation. Houston has a true ace in Hunter Brown, but he needs a running mate, while the Mets are in search of a real No. 1. The thing is, the Mets can afford the exploding prices for free-agent starters, while the Astros only have about $26 million to spend before they hit the luxury tax.

Both clubs have other needs as well. The Brandon Nimmo-Marcus Semien trade left Juan Soto and a bunch of question marks in the outfield. If the Astros can't find an affordable high-end starter, they won't have any chance of solving any other need.

It just so happens that the Mets have an affordable starter that would fit the bill for the Astros in Kodai Senga. While it's not a slam dunk that they'll move on from the Japanese star, it might be the best way for them to clear their logjam and make way for a legitimate ace.

And it just so happens that the Astros have a surplus of center fielders, including defensive whiz Jake Meyers, who fits the bill of what David Stearns is looking for in his efforts to tighten up the defense.

The seeds of a trade are here, but can it truly be consummated?

The Mets and Astros look like perfect partners to swap Kodai Senga for Jake Meyers, but there's a hitch

The 29-year-old Meyers is projected to make just $3.5 million in arbitration, has two years of team control, is coming off a career year offensively in which he slashed .292/.354/.373 with a 107 wRC+, and is one of the best defenders in the game. That has suitors lining up for his services. For their part, the Astros have two younger, high-ceiling options in Zach Cole and Jacob Melton, who can step in Meyers' stead.

As turbulent as the past two seasons have been for Senga, the high-end potential is still there. It might be hard to remember, but from opening day through June 12, when he went down with a hamstring injury, it was Senga and not Paul Skenes or Tarik Skubal, who led the majors in ERA with a microscopic 1.47 mark.

And therein lies to rub. As good as Meyers' 2025 was offensively, it has been an outlier for his career. He posted an 85 wRC+ in 2024, a mark of 87 in 2023, and came in at 66 in 2022. The glove work has always been solid, but there's a decent chance that his bat regresses and he's the second-coming of Tyrone Taylor.

The Mets might be willing to take that gamble if they were getting another piece to offset their risk. However, that's where things fall apart. The Astros are light on major league depth, so aside from Meyers, there are no surpluses to deal from. Their farm system is one of the most barren in the entire league.

A Senga for Meyers is a great starting point for a deal, but without a legitimate second piece coming back to Queens, there isn't really a compelling reason for David Stearns to pull the trigger.