The MLB trade deadline is over. However, it might not be the end of trades. Aha! We saw an example of this last year when the New York Mets acquired Eddy Alvarez from the Boston Red Sox. If a player hasn’t spent any time in the major leagues in 2025, he’ll be eligible to get traded for the rest of the season.
MLB Trade Rumors profiled all of the details as to how this may occur, even throwing out a few names of players who could change hands. Less so a chance to swap prospects and more for veteran journeymen to find a new home, Mets minor leaguer Yonny Hernandez was appropriately named as a candidate to get traded away by the Mets.
The Mets may actually have a player they could trade before the end of the year
In 221 MLB plate appearances, Hernandez is a .190 hitter. The 27-year-old infielder hasn’t done a whole lot in the majors. With 0 home runs, the same total he has for the Syracuse Mets this year, no one is looking to take a chance on him to crack a few home runs. He’d supplement their bench.
The Mets haven’t, nor are they likely to, have much use for Hernandez. He has spent most of his year in Syracuse playing shortstop. If there comes a point where the Mets need him for any kind of role, something is seriously wrong.
The intrigue for Hernandez comes from his batting average. Boasting a .340 average 221 trips to the plate (ironically the same he has had in the majors), he appears to have the upperhand against pitchers. A patient hitter as well, he has 23 walks versus just 19 strikeouts.
Hernandez has one minor league option remaining, adding some added roster flexibility. A team could conceivably trade for him and keep Hernandez stashed in the minor leagues with a thought of getting a closer look. If a playoff team had any intention of having him on their roster in the postseason, they'd need to acquire him before August is over for him to be eligible.
The Mets currently don't have as great of a need to make one of these trades. Luisangel Acuna is the logical choice to return by September for the role of pinch runner. David Stearns has showed it's a gig he values.