NY Mets minor league flier is earning a larger tryout after the MLB trade deadline

The New York Mets are open for business this summer, with nearly every player on the roster reportedly up for grabs. That doesn't mean that literally everyone will go by the Aug. 3 trade deadline, but it is a guarantee that there will be several vacancies on the active roster that need filling for the final two months of the regular season.

Naturally, that raises the question of where the Mets will find the requisite reinforcements. They could (and likely will) continue to promote top prospects like Jonah Tong, Ryan Clifford, and Jack Wenninger to Queens, but even that may not be enough to fill all the open hopes once David Stearns is done.

Thus, we arrive at the fliers in the organization -- the players who are simply waiting for their next chance at the big-league level. That group includes those who are already on the 40-man roster (Eric Wagaman, MJ Melendez) as well as those who have yet to play for the major-league Mets (Ben Rortvedt, Christian Arroyo, etc.).

If there's anyone from that tier who is most deserving of an opportunity in New York, though, it's Christopher Morel. The Mets signed the former Cubs slugger at the end of June after a miserable stint in Miami, and he's done nothing but hit since arriving in Triple-A Syracuse (.341/.400/.732, 180 wRC+). The odds of him becoming a part of the team's long-term plans are slim, but the Mets might as well see if he can carry his momentum forward to the top level.

Mets have every incentive to give Christopher Morel another chance after their trade deadline fire sale

At this point in his career, the 27-year-old Morel is a true corner infielder, meaning that his best path to playing time would be at first base. Technically, Jared Young and Jorge Polanco stand in his way, not to mention current Syracuse teammate Ryan Clifford, though a trade of either Luis Robert Jr. (opens up DH by pushing Juan Soto back to left field) or Bo Bichette (opens up third base) would create another route to getting Morel at-bats in the majors.

His sample in the organization is obviously small, with his 1.132 OPS compiled over the course of just 45 plate appearances. He has noticeably cut down on his strikeout rate (24.4%) without sacrificing any power (eight extra-base hits) in that span, so perhaps the gains Morel has made aren't purely a fluke.

But even if he gets exposed in the big leagues again, what's the harm in giving him a chance? The Mets aren't making the playoffs this season. The rest of 2026 is about evaluating for the future while giving the fans something to root for over the final few months of action before the impending lockout. If Morel can't stake his claim to a long-term spot with this team, he's at least a good bet to bring some excitement to Citi Field before the year is out.

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