2 top MLB trade candidates the NY Mets should pursue, 1 they should stay far away from

Jeff Passan kept it real with the New York Mets and their trade deadline plans by not completely dismissing the idea that they end up buying. Although we’re all a bit emotionally taxed by the way this team has played, they’re not all that far off from a playoff spot.

Passan released a list of top 100 trade candidates. Multiple Mets players made the list as ones who’ll be on the move. Passan was kind enough to also include the Mets as potential suitors for some others.

What’s interesting is the Mets could actually pull off a situation where they sell all expiring contracts while buying a controllable piece in a separate trade. It’s the precise kind of creative thinking we’d expect from David Stearns. Not everyone mentioned by Passan is worth a phone call even without an additional charge. Two are worth discussing. Another should be considered completely off-limits.

Two players the Mets should pursue

Reid Detmers is worth a conversation

The 26-year-old lefty is controlled through the 2028 season and is off to a strong start. The Los Angeles Angels moved him back to the rotation after spending all of 2025 in the bullpen. A 3.68 ERA and 10.2 K/9 rate along with 2.5 BB/9 has made him a desirable trade chip on a team that can never seem to get over even the most minor of humps.

Detmers was a trade candidate for the Mets last summer as a reliever. The Angels decided, instead of selling, to buy a few more bullpen arms. It didn’t break their playoff drought. This year might be the time when they sell high on a pitcher they were low on in the recent past.

Jose Soriano is the other Angels pitcher to talk about

Jose Soriano is 27 and controlled through 2028 as well, just like Detmers. He started off his season looking like the best pitcher in MLB. While those numbers aren’t quite as historic as they were at the start of the season, he’s still 8-4 with a 2.79 ERA. His 9.5 K/9 rate is satisfying enough even if it has come with a league-high 42 walks at the time of Passan’s list being released on Wednesday.

A couple of good but not great years up until this point, Soriano could end up as one of the most expensive starters for sale this summer because of the extra years of control. Adding him now would be a nice head start for next season regardless of how this year goes.

One player the Mets should stay away from

Matt Chapman doesn’t make enough sense for the Mets

The Mets don’t need to go down this road. Matt Chapman’s contract pays him just over $25 million in each of the next four seasons, not including the current campaign. He’s having a pretty good year and playing exceptional defense. Acquiring him, at any cost, doesn’t make sense for the Mets in the midst of the middle of the season. Where’s he going to even play?

We were sold the Mets traded Brandon Nimmo to get out from his contract. Chapman would essentially replace him on the payroll for about $4.5 million more per year. Do we really want a roster loaded with aging Gold Glove winners? Chapman could be headed toward a successful year at the plate. Trading for him now, when Bo Bichette could very well finish with a better season at the plate and good enough one defensively, doesn’t add up.

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