A NY Mets-Phillies trade swapping former top prospects between NL East rivals

Trades between the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies happen, but they just aren’t as significant as ones from the past. Usually it’s smaller pieces, often with cash associated, that will have the NL East rivals pairing up for a deal.

With both teams vying for a playoff spot next year, there probably won’t be any kind of major swap to make. Something small, perhaps, could make sense for the clubs.

The Phillies have reportedly made center fielder Johan Rojas available in trades. The franchise’s fourth ranked prospect in 2022, Rojas’ biggest problem has been hitting at the big league level. He has played awesome defense in center field with some of the quickest legs. With a minor league option remaining, he’s someone the Mets could acquire as a backup option until Carson Benge is ready. But in order to acquire this gifted runner and fielder, the Mets will have to say goodbye to a bust of their own.

The Mets can add experienced center field help, defense, and speed with Johan Rojas in exchange for Kevin Parada who may appeal to a Phillies squad with room to stash him on their 40-man roster

Is this how it all ends for Kevin Parada? In 2023, he was ranked as the third Mets prospect. Struggles to hit and even defend in the minor leagues had him fading and dropping entirely off of most top prospect lists for the Mets. He finished his stint in 2025 in Double-A strong before a late season promotion to Triple-A.

Just a .237/.321/.399 hitter since debuting in 2022, the tenth overall pick from that year’s draft doesn’t have much of a future with the Mets. Francisco Alvarez is miles ahead of him (and younger). Parada, 24, is Rule 5 eligible this December. Unless the Mets want to carry four catchers or part with Alvarez, Luis Torrens, or Hayden Senger, they’re at risk of losing him to another team who might have incentive to stash him as their backup for a year while maybe even carrying three catchers regularly.

Rojas is coming off of a year where he hit .224/.280/.289. Each year since debuting in 2023 has shown a decline. The Mets wouldn’t be able to count on him for much other than to ensure Tyrone Taylor isn’t playing every inning in center field.

The Phillies’ catcher situation currently has J.T. Realmuto in free agency with Rafael Marchan and Garrett Stubbs on their 40-man roster. Neither has remaining options which feels likely to lead to one getting DFA’d. Philadelphia would need to protect Parada before the Rule 5 Draft which they could accommodate more reasonably with only two catchers currently there. Dump Marchan or Stubbs and re-sign Realmuto or go bold with a trade for Adley Rutschman. Let Parada sit on your 40-man roster for a year and see if he becomes a suitable big league option.

Giving up on Parada, and sending him to a rival, won’t have appeal to a large mass of fans. At the risk of losing him for nothing, it’s a worthwhile trade to consider. He’s not even a top 30 prospect at this point and while once a highly valued prospect, has shown there are holes in his game at every level.

Years of being mentioned in mock trades, Parada is someone the Mets wouldn’t be able to get a whole lot for. Someone willing to protect him on their 40-man roster could give them something. This deal helps solve a different Mets problem and adds depth at a position they could use it.