How the LA Angels ownership change can actually help the NY Mets out

Back when Steve Cohen bought the New York Mets for $2.5 billion in 2020, it felt like MLB franchise valuations had entered a new era. For about six years, that price stood as the high-water mark, until the San Diego Padres found a billionaire couple willing to fork over $3.9 billion for their operation.

Mere months later, the Los Angeles Angles have once again reset the bar, securing a payout rumored to be around $4 billion from real estate mogul Stan Kroenke. Having already won titles in the NBA (Nuggets), NHL (Avalanche), and NFL (Rams), the league's new wealthiest owner will try to secure the sports version of an EGOT by winning a World Series in Anaheim.

However, there's more to this than just two unfathomably wealthy people flexing their money on each other. Under Kroenke, who has made a reputation of going star-hunting with his other teams, the Angels will almost certainly want to make a big splash to announce their intentions of competing in the near future.

The Mets, loaded with big-name players on bloated contracts, should be the first ones on the phone trying to swing such a trade.

Like Mets' Francisco Lindor trade in 2021, the Angels will be seeking a blockbuster move under their new owner

Of course, most will remember that the Mets pulled this exact maneuver during Cohen's first offseason at the helm, trading a huge package of young players and prospects for shortstop Francisco Lindor and starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco. They subsequently gave Lindor a massive 10-year contract in a loud proclamation that they planned to operate like a true big-market team.

Even at the time, we knew they were being over-exuberant, though sometimes you have to take actions that are more symbolic than sensible. The Angels, after a long period of futility under old owner Arte Moreno, are going to be over-exuberant as they try to usher in a new era.

Speaking of Lindor, the Mets might finally have the perfect situation to dump his remaining contract on another team. We know they explored the idea at the trade deadline this year and are expected to do the same this winter; why not pitch a partnership of him and Trout to Kroenke, who has more than enough capital to afford both aging stars?

Even if that idea falls through for one reason (money) or another (Lindor's age), there are still plenty of players the Mets can try to pawn off. Devin Williams is still a well-known reliver with All-Star credentials, and he's only got two years remaining on his contract. Bo Bichette, who is only 28, would also be an excellent candidate if he opts in to his $42 million salary for the 2027 season.

That's not to say every expensive member of the roster is movable; Juan Soto's situation is too unique to really consider, and guys like Jorge Polanco and Marcus Semien haven't been productive enough to pitch to other teams. Still, there's a fit to be had here, even if Cohen has to admit that he's been surpassed in the money game to make a trade happen.

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