NY Mets Monday Morning GM: Brandon Nimmo trade makes these 3 targets more realistic

2) Fernando Tatis Jr.

Free agency doesn’t have a whole lot of incredible options at the corner outfield spots. Cody Bellinger is another but he already made sense for the Mets before this trade. Maybe a slightly more realistic choice now, a trade with the San Diego Padres for Platinum Glove Winner Fernando Tatis Jr. is the big fish to reel in.

Averaging 37 home runs per 162 games, Tatis is a superstar shortstop convert who moved to right field a few years ago and has been defending with the best of them ever since. Considering the Mets just brought in Semien to improve their defense, a heavy focus on further run prevention would be a great follow-up. Stephen Parello put together a thought to shock us by packaging Francisco Alvarez in a deal for Tatis.

The 26-year-old is on a contract through the 2034 season which seems extreme but only takes him through age 35. It comes with risk, but by the time he gets to the end of this contract the $36+ million he’ll start to make in 2029 won’t even be in the top 10 of Major League Baseball.

With the Padres hoping to shed salary just like the Rangers were, a call to San Diego seems like one of the next steps for David Stearns.